Rural island: The Chief Executive in Council has approved the draft Cheung Chau Outline Zoning Plan which aims to preserve the island's rural character, car-free environment and the natural landscape.

The Chief Executive in Council has approved the draft Cheung Chau Outline Zoning Plan which aims to preserve the island's rural character, car-free environment and the natural landscape, the Town Planning Board says.

Covering 307 hectares, the zone comprises the island of Cheung Chau with a land area of about 244 hectares and the 63-hectare Cheung Chau Typhoon Shelter. 

About 22.9 hectares are zoned "Residential" for private residential and public housing developments.

About 0.3 hectare of land is zoned "Commercial" for commercial developments to serve the neighbourhood and visitors, while 29.9 hectares are zoned "Village Type Development" to retain the existing village areas.

To meet the area residents' needs, 17.8 hectares are zoned "Government, Institution or Community" to provide a range of community facilities.

Recreational facilities

About 11.7 hectares are designated as "Open Space" for active and passive recreational activities, and about 8.4 hectares are zoned "Recreation" for the development of recreation and tourism/eco-tourism.

About 13 hectares are zoned "Other Specified Uses". These include beach-related leisure uses, a cemetery, sewage treatment works, refuse transfer station, shipyard and ship-repairing workshop and piers.

To protect the natural landscape and to provide passive recreational outlets for the local population and visitors, a total of 111.5 hectares are zoned "Green Belt", while 22.7 hectares are zoned "Coastal Protection Area" to conserve, protect and retain the natural coastlines and the sensitive natural coastal environment.