The Hong Kong government on Wednesday (Oct. 6) announced the enhancement to the Public-Private Partnership Scheme under the New Nature Conservation Policy.
Rolled out in 2004, the policy identified 12 priority sites of ecological importance for enhanced conservation.
According to its partnership scheme, certain development is allowed in the ecologically less sensitive portion of the private land in these sites if relevant land owners undertake specific conditions.
An additional option will be provided under the enhanced scheme, under which land owners may opt to follow the existing mechanism to retain the conservation portion of their land, or surrender it to the government for conservation and management.
Those who choose to return the conservation portion of land are still required to provide to the government a lump sum contribution that is sufficient to generate recurrent income to support the long-term conservation work.
In addition, full market value premium will be charged in accordance with the established mechanism for the portion that is ecologically less sensitive and in which certain development is allowed.
The Environment Bureau said the scheme's enhancement will enable the government to take part in the conservation and management of the ecologically important sites more proactively.
It can also unleash the development potential of some sites, thereby achieving a better balance of conservation and development.
The bureau added that the Northern Metropolis Development Strategy announced in the Policy Address has also outlined new measures and directions for the conservation of the future metropolis' ecological environment and wetlands.
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