Rural Planning and Improvement Strategy

The Rural Planning and Improvement Strategy (RPIS) is a coherent
strategy for planning and improving the rural areas of the New Territories
through infrastructural development/environmental improvement and land
use control. It is implemented at both strategic and district levels.

At the strategic level, land-use policies are reviewed to control
incompatible uses and provide a sustainable framework for public and
private developments in the rural New Territories. Several planning studies
and surveys have been, or are being, undertaken to facilitate the review.

At the district level, smaller-scale improvement projects are implemented
under the RPIS Minor Works Programme monitored by the Home Affairs
Department since late 1994. Moreover, a streamlined two-tier
administrative structure consisting of the RPIS Minor Works Steering
Committee attended by representatives of Heung Yee Kuk and New
Territories Provisional District Boards (NTPDBs) and the District
Working Groups attended by representatives of NTPDBs and Rural
Communities has been adopted. This two-tier structure provides stronger
local participation in the identification of local needs, prioritisation of
project implementation and resolution of local objections.

The TDD continues to implement the major improvement works, such as
river-training and village flood protection works, either through agent
departments or consultants.

Large tracts of low-lying land at Yuen Long, Kam Tin and Ngau Tam Mei
are particularly susceptible to flooding during heavy rains. Major
river-training and flood-prevention projects are being implemented to
improve the drainage systems of the area. The flood control works for
Shan Pui River, the down-stream and mid-stream sections of Kam Tin
River, and the village flood protection works at Sha Po Tsuen, San Tin
Village and Ha Mei San Tsuen are in progress.

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