Conservation officials not worried by zone plan lapse in Tai Long Sai Wan
Conservation officials say they can keep work in Sai Wan under control during transition but activists worry over legal vaccum if bill fails
Conservation officials have pledged that development controls at Tai Long Sai Wan will remain in place even though an interim zoning plan lapsed more than three months ago.
The pledge came following worries a possible legal vacuum could occur if lawmakers today fail to prevent a bid from Heung Yee Kuk chief Lau Wong-fat to exclude the coastal enclave from the surrounding Sai Kung East Country Park.
An interim zoning plan covering the 17 hectares of land in Sai Wan gave the Planning Department the power to prevent unauthorised development, but it expired in August, prompting uncertainty over what form of protection would remain if the country park proposal was rejected.
A Planning Department spokeswoman said there was no zoning plan covering the area as the government had decided to designate it as a country park.
The bill to confirm the designation - even if lawmakers reject Lau's bid to scrap the plan - will not take effect until December 30.
This left a gap from August until the end of the month, during which works in the enclave might not be strictly controlled and villagers and landowners no longer have to abide by explicit planning constraints over land excavation, stream diversion, land-filling and pond creation.
Under the Town Planning Ordinance, the chief executive has the power to extend the interim zoning for another year. A spokeswoman for the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department would not directly comment on whether a legal vacuum existed over the area.
