Criteria	Ranking	Description
Character The aggregate impression created by the most significant landscape features within a given landscape.	Not Applicable	Typical elements in the description include location, character, topography and relief, geological features, built form and vernacular features, vegetation, land use, hydrology and communication and aesthetic and perceptual factors.
Condition The integrity of the pattern of positive landscape features which make up  the character of the landscape is assessed. Landscape condition of  each LCA is graded 'Good', 'Moderate' or 'Poor' and a corresponding landscape management strategy (conservation/ enhancement / reconstruction) is recommended.	Good	The landscape is in good condition when the pattern of natural resources is coherent, largely intact and un-interrupted. This means that there is limited disturbance to natural terrain, natural features and watercourses and a significant presence of vegetation (either natural vegetation in rural locations or street trees and ornamental vegetation in an urban context).
	Moderate	The landscape is in moderate condition when the pattern of natural resources is to a significant extent altered or diminished. In the case of a rural landscape, this means that there may be some disturbance to natural terrain, watercourses or patterns of vegetation. In an urban context, it means that there will be considerable adaptation of terrain and slopes and/or very limited vegetation cover.
	Poor	The landscape is in poor condition when the pattern of natural resources which make up the landscapes is highly degraded. This means that there will be almost total disturbance to natural terrain, natural features and watercourses with little or no vegetation.
Sensitivity The ability of a landscape to accommodate change without prejudice to its existing landscape character. For each LCA, landscape sensitivity is assessed as 'More Sensitive' or 'Less Sensitive' to a given list of potential development types.	More  Sensitive	A limited amount of a proposed development type is likely to have a significant prejudicial effect on the character of a landscape. Such development may not be in keeping with existing patterns of land use and built form in the landscape, such that a small amount of this development is likely to significantly change landscape character. Alternatively, the physical characteristics of the landscape (landform, vegetation cover, etc) mean that the proposed development is unlikely to be accommodated within the landscape without negatively affecting existing qualities.
	Less Sensitive	A limited amount of a proposed development type is unlikely to have a significant prejudicial effect on the character of a landscape. Such development may be in keeping with existing patterns of land use and built form in the landscape, such that a small amount of further such development is unlikely to significantly change landscape character. Alternatively, the physical characteristics of the landscape (landform, vegetation cover, etc) mean that the proposed development is likely to be accommodated with the landscape without significantly compromising existing qualities.
Value Landscape value represents the importance we attach to a landscape.  Specifically, landscape value is attributed taking into account visual coherence, complexity, rarity, relief and condition,  key heritage/natural features and visual  attractor/detractor.	High	Most high value landscapes are landscapes in good condition and which possess a high level of visual coherence, with no significant visual detractors. Their value is augmented by a number of factors such as the presence of a significant natural resource or heritage feature that has a visual manifestation; or by unique features contributing to the landscape's distinctiveness; or by one or more visual attractors; or by high levels of visual relief, the presence of a water body, high levels of visual complexity or rarity.
Landscape value is judged as 'High', 'High(Qualified)', 'Moderate' or 'Low'.	High (Qualified)	High (Qualified) landscapes are those which have consistently high levels of landscape value (as per the definition above) but which do not quite fall into the 'High' value category. Typically, either their scenic value or their condition is diminished slightly by  one or more features or aspects of their character. Such landscapes otherwise typically possess high scenic and landscape values and will possess no visual detractors.
	Moderate	Moderate value landscapes typically contain a variety of features which affect the value of the landscape in both negative and positive ways. Though they may contain visual attractors or visual detractors, these landscapes cannot be described as particularly 'scenic', nor can they be described as particularly 'unsightly'. Such landscapes normally have moderate visual coherence and are in moderate condition. They are in effect, Hong Kong's 'ordinary' landscapes, with neither very positive nor very negative attributes.
	Low	Most low value landscapes are in poor condition, possess low levels of visual coherence and no natural resources or heritage features that have a visual manifestation. They will also contain one or more significant visual detractors.