The Town Planning Board has rezoned a slice of Pui O’s Coastal Protection Area (CPA) for a planned sewage treatment facility.

The board announced today it intends to rezone an area “south of South Lantau Road” for the planned treatment works. It does not specify the exact size or location of the rezoned slice of land.

Under the zoning plan approved in September 2014, 162.5 hectares of South Lantau land are designated as CPA, primarily in a strip between Pui O and Shui Hau.

The CPA is intended to protect areas of conservation or ecological importance in Hong Kong coastal zones. However, the controversy over dumping on designated CPA land in Pui O – now subject to a judicial review – has underscored the weakness of the current CPA regime.

Members of the public can make submissions to the TPB over the rezoning. They can view the draft plan between now and August 2 at the Islands District Office in Mui Wo, the South Lantao Rural Committee in Pui O and the Islands District Office, 20F, Harbour Building, Central.

The current Outline Zoning Plan (OZP) can be viewed at the TPB website.

Photo: Dumping in Pui O wetland (file photo)