This set of guidelines provides guidance and factors in determining each LCT.

• For 'Topography', 'Land Use', 'Built Form' and ''Other Relevant Characteristics', these guidelines describe both essential characteristics as well as those that are generally the norm.

• For 'Boundary Definition', they also describe how the boundaries of each LCA/LCT are identified.

• For 'Precedence', general rules governing the priority one LCT should take in the classification in relation to other potentially relevant LCTs, are provided.

• For 'Typical Appellation', typical appropriate names for LCAs of each LCT are suggested.

Upland Countryside Types

Coastal Upland and Hillside Landscape

Topography: Coastal Uplands and Hillsides lie below 300mPD

Land Use: predominantly undeveloped

Built Form: none (occasional small buildings)

Other Relevant Characteristics: adjacent to Coastal Water or Inter-tidal Coast LCA.

Boundary Definition: these are residual areas not otherwise defined as Valleys LCTs, Upland Plateaux, Peaks LCTs. Adjacent to urban, urban fringe or rural fringe areas, boundaries are defined by reference to the extent of those LCAs. At the coast, the boundary is defined by mean high-tide level. In the case of a peninsula or headland, it should in general be at least 1000m wide in order to split it into more that one LCA - if less than this, it should be a single LCA;

Precedence: Coastal Uplands and Hillsides are subordinate to all other LCTs, except for Uplands and Hillsides. In a case where an area of what would otherwise be Coastal Uplands and Hillsides lies between an area of Peaks and another LCT, but is too small to form its own LCA (according to the guidelines above), that area will generally become part of that other LCA, i.e. not part of the Peaks LCA.

Typical Appellation: 'XXXX Coastal Uplands' or 'XXXX Peninsula' or 'XXXX Headland'

Peak Landscape

Topography: areas lying at a higher altitude than 300mPD

Land Use: predominantly undeveloped

Built Form: none (occasional small buildings)

Other Relevant Characteristics: none

Boundary Definition: 300mPD contour

Precedence: Peaks are subordinate to any LCT with significant development in it or by any Valley LCT.

Typical Appellation: 'XXXX Peaks' or 'XXXX Shan' or 'XXXX' Ridge, etc.

Settled Valley Landscape

Topography: elongated concave landform.

Land Use: significant evidence of human settlement, cultivation or any significant engineering structure such as a metalled road or service reservoir.

Built Form: none (occasional small buildings)

Other Relevant Characteristics: In principle a single valley should not be split into Settled Valley and Unsettled Valley LCTs.

Boundary Definition: Areas of concave and convex landform were identified by running a 50m contour DTM of the whole of Hong Kong through a computer. For the purposes of the study, any concave area more than 1500mm wide was treated as a flood plain ('Rural Inland Plain') rather than a valley. 1500m was deemed to be the point at which there was no sense of significant enclosure, given the typical height of uplands in Hong Kong. The mouth of the valley is defined at the mount where a discernible sense of enclosure ceases, at the nearest definable feature on the ground, such as a road, footpath or stream.

Precedence: Settled valleys are subordinate to any Urban or Urban Fringe or Rural Fringe LCTs, but take precedence over all other Rural LCTs (notably Peaks and Uplands and Hillsides).

Typical Appellation: 'XXXX Valley'

Unsettled Valley Landscape

Topography: elongated concave landform

Land Use: undeveloped

Built Form: none (occasional small buildings)

Other Relevant Characteristics: no obvious significant evidence of human settlement, cultivation or any significant engineering structure such as a metalled road or service reservoir. In principle a single valley should not be spit into Settled Valley and Unsettled Valley LCTs.
Boundary Definition: Areas of concave and convex landform were identified by running a 50m contour DTM of the whole of Hong Kong through a computer For the purposes of the study, any concave area more than 1500mm wide was treated as a flood plain ('Rural Inland Plain') rather than a valley. 1500m was deemed to be the point at which there was no sense of significant enclosure, given the typical height of uplands in Hong Kong. The mouth of the valley is defined at the point where a discernible sense of enclosure ceases, at the nearest definable feature on the ground, such as a road, footpath or stream.

Precedence: Unsettled valleys are subordinate to any LCT with development in it, but take precedence over all other LCTs (notably Peaks and Uplands and Hillsides).

Typical Appellation: 'XXXX Valley'

Upland Plateau Landscape

Topography: Plateau - significant flat (or undulating) areas in uplands above 40mPD.

Land Use: predominantly undeveloped

Built Form: none (occasional small buildings on islands)

Other Relevant Characteristics: island that cannot be subdivided into any other LCAs

Boundary Definition: by reference to the contour defining the edge of the flat/undulating area.

Precedence: take precedence over all other Rural LCTs but are subordinate to all other LCTs (i.e. Urban Fringe, Rural Fringe and Urban LCTs).

Typical Appellation: 'XXXX Plateau'

Upland and Hillside Landscape

Topography: Uplands and Hillsides lie above 40mPD and below 300mPD

Land Use: predominantly undeveloped

Built Form: none (occasional small buildings)

Other Relevant Characteristics: none

Boundary Definition: these are residual areas not otherwise defined as Valleys LCTs, Upland Plateaux, Peaks LCTs. Adjacent to urban, urban fringe or rural fringe areas, boundaries are defined by reference to the extent of those LCAs.
Precedence: Uplands and Hillsides are subordinate to all other LCTs. In a case where an area of what would otherwise be Uplands and Hillsides lies between an area of Peaks and another LCT, but is too small to form its own LCA (according to the guidelines above), that area will generally become part of that other LCA, i.e. not part of the Peaks LCA.

Typical Appellation: 'XXXX Uplands' or 'XXXX Hillsides' or 'XXXX' Knoll, etc.
　

Lowland Countryside Types

Rural Coastal Plain Landscape

Topography: areas below 40mPD

Land Use: predominantly agricultural

Built Form: generally villages or scattered low-rise buildings

Other Relevant Characteristics: adjacent to Coastal Water or Inter-tidal Coast LCA.

Boundary Definition: This is a residual category and boundaries are defined by reference to adjacent LCAs. Generally the mouths of Valleys which run down to the coast will not be Rural Coastal Plain unless the plain takes on a significant size (wider than 500m) and has little sense of containment from surrounding valley sides.

Precedence: Coastal Rural Plains are subordinate to all other Urban, Urban Fringe and Rural Fringe LCTs.

Typical Appellation: 'XXXX Coastal Plain'

Rural Inland Plain Landscape

Topography: areas below 40mPD

Land Use: predominantly agricultural

Built Form: generally villages or scattered low-rise buildings

Other Relevant Characteristics: not adjacent to Coastal Water or Inter-tidal Coast LCA.

Boundary Definition: This is a residual category and boundaries are defined by reference to adjacent LCAs. Generally the mouths of Valleys which run down to the coast will not be Rural Coastal Plain unless the plain takes on a significant size (wider than 500m) and has little sense of containment from surrounding valley sides.

Precedence: Rural Inland Plains are subordinate to all other Urban, Urban Fringe and Rural Fringe LCTs.

Typical Appellation: 'XXXX Plain'

Rural Fringe Landscape Types

Golf Course Landscape

Topography: any

Land Use: golf course

Built Form: scattered low rise buildings

Other Relevant Characteristics: none

Boundary Definition: by reference to the extent of relevant land-uses and built form (usually road, footpath, stream or lot boundary)

Precedence: takes precedence over all Rural LCTs.

Typical Appellation: 'XXXX Golf Course'

Reservoir Landscape

Topography: any (but generally valley)

Land Use: reservoir

Built Form: scattered low rise buildings

Other Relevant Characteristics: none

Boundary Definition: includes adjoining natural slopes up to 40m above the height of the reservoir. Otherwise by reference to extent of dam and associated facilities.

Precedence: takes precedence over all Rural LCTs.

Typical Appellation: 'XXXX Reservoir'

Urban Fringe Landscape Types

Urban Peripheral Village Landscape

Topography: any (but generally plain or hillside)

Land Use: predominantly residential with some undeveloped land, public open space

Built Form: low rise village development

Other Relevant Characteristics: location edge of new town area

Boundary Definition: by reference to the extent of relevant land-uses and built form (usually road, footpath, stream or lot boundary)

Precedence: takes precedence over all Rural LCTs.

Typical Appellation: 'XXXX Village Area'

Miscellaneous Rural Fringe Landscape
 
Topography: any (but generally plains)

Land Use: predominantly undeveloped but with high proportions of vacant land and some non-rural land-uses

Built Form: villages and scattered low rise buildings

Other Relevant Characteristics: none

Boundary Definition: by reference to the extent of relevant land-uses and built form (usually road, footpath, stream or lot boundary)

Precedence: takes precedence over all Rural LCTs.

Typical Appellation: 'XXXX Rural Fringe'
　

Urban Fringe Landscape Types

Airport Landscape

Topography: any (but generally reclamation)

Land Use: airport

Built Form: scattered low or medium rise buildings

Other Relevant Characteristics: none

Boundary Definition: by reference to the extent of relevant land-uses and built form (coastal edge in the case of Chek Lap Kok)

Precedence: takes precedence over all Rural LCTs.

Typical Appellation: 'XXXX Airport'
　

Cemetery Landscape

Topography: any (but generally hillsides)

Land Use: cemetery

Built Form: scattered low rise buildings

Other Relevant Characteristics: none

Boundary Definition: by reference to the extent of relevant land-uses and built form (usually road, footpath, stream or lot boundary)

Precedence: takes precedence over all Rural LCTs.

Typical Appellation: 'XXXX Cemetery'
　

Comprehensive Residential Development Landscape

Topography: any

Land Use: predominantly residential with limited community and retail

Built Form: generally low rise (but sometimes mixed with towers) any height, on structured layout

Other Relevant Characteristics: outside urban areas

Boundary Definition: by reference to the extent of relevant land-uses and built form (usually road or lot boundary)

Precedence: takes precedence over all Rural LCTs.

Typical Appellation: 'XXXX Development' or 'XXXX Estate'
　

Institutional Landscape

Topography: any (but generally plains)

Land Use: institutional or community

Built Form: scattered low or medium rise buildings

Other Relevant Characteristics: generally significant vegetation coverage

Boundary Definition: by reference to the extent of relevant land-uses and built form (usually road, footpath, stream or lot boundary)

Precedence: takes precedence over all Rural LCTs.

Typical Appellation: 'XXXX Prison'; 'XXXX Camp' or 'XXXX Institutional Area'.
　

Quarry / Landfill Landscape

Topography: any (but generally upland)

Land Use: quarry or landfill

Built Form: scattered low-rise buildings

Other Relevant Characteristics: none

Boundary Definition: by reference to the extent of relevant land-uses and built form (usually road, footpath, stream or lot boundary)

Precedence: takes precedence over all Rural LCTs.

Typical Appellation: 'XXXX Quarry' or 'XXXX Landfill'
　

Reclamation/Ongoing Major Development Landscape

Topography: any (but generally reclamation)

Land Use: undeveloped or ongoing development

Built Form: none or partially complete structures

Other Relevant Characteristics: none

Boundary Definition: by reference to the extent of relevant land-uses and built form (usually road, footpath, stream or lot boundary)

Precedence: takes precedence over all Rural LCTs.

Typical Appellation: 'XXXX Ongoing Development' or 'XXXXX Reclamation'
　

Residential Urban Fringe Landscape

Topography: any (but generally hillsides)

Land Use: residential interspersed with undeveloped land

Built Form: any height, scattered

Other Relevant Characteristics: on edge of urban area

Boundary Definition: by reference to the extent of relevant land-uses and built form (usually road, footpath, stream or lot boundary)

Precedence: takes precedence over all Rural LCTs.

Typical Appellation: 'XXXX Residential Urban Fringe'
　

Theme Park Landscape

Topography: any

Land Use: theme park

Built Form: scattered low or medium rise buildings

Other Relevant Characteristics: none

Boundary Definition: by reference to the extent of relevant land-uses and built form (usually road, footpath, stream or lot boundary)

Precedence: takes precedence over all Rural LCTs.

Typical Appellation: 'XXXX Park' or 'XXXX Theme Park'
　

Transportation Corridor Landscape

Topography: any (but generally reclamation or plain)

Land Use: major highway plus railway (often with scattered associated buildings)

Built Form: generally low-rise

Other Relevant Characteristics: none

Boundary Definition: by reference to the extent of relevant land-uses (usually slope or lot boundary)

Precedence: takes precedence over all Rural LCTs.

Typical Appellation: 'XXXX Expressway' or 'XXXXX Transportation Corridor'
　

Miscellaneous Urban Fringe Landscape

Topography: any

Land Use: mixed (typically highways, community, transportation, storage residential, undeveloped land)

Built Form: generally low rise (but sometimes mixed with towers) any height, on structured layout

Other Relevant Characteristics: location edge of urban area

Boundary Definition: by reference to the extent of relevant land-uses and built form (usually road, footpath, stream or lot boundary)

Precedence: takes precedence over all Rural LCTs.

Typical Appellation: 'XXXX Urban Fringe'

Urban Landscape Types

City Grid Mixed Urban Landscape

Topography: any (but generally reclamation)

Land Use: predominantly residential, commercial and retail land uses

Built Form: mixed height development and orthogonal street layout

Other Relevant Characteristics: none

Boundary Definition: by reference to the extent of relevant land-uses and built form (usually road or lot boundary)

Precedence: takes precedence over all Rural LCTs.

Typical Appellation: 'XXXX Urban Area'
　

Civic Urban Waterfront Landscape

Topography: any (but generally reclamation)

Land Use: commercial or community with public open space

Built Form: any

Other Relevant Characteristics: waterfront location with formal coastal edge

Boundary Definition: by reference to the extent of relevant land-uses and built form (usually road or lot boundary) and coastal edge

Precedence: takes precedence over all Rural LCTs.

Typical Appellation: 'XXXX Waterfront' or 'XXX Promenade'
　

‘Hui’ Urban Landscape
 
Topography: any (but generally inland plain)

Land Use: predominantly retail, residential and community uses

Built Form: low or medium rise on narrow orthogonal streets

Other Relevant Characteristics: surrounded by more recent modern comprehensive development

Boundary Definition: by reference to the extent of relevant land-uses and built form (usually road or lot boundary)

Precedence: takes precedence over all Rural LCTs.

Typical Appellation: 'XXXX Hui' or 'XXXX Original Core'
　

Industrial Urban Landscape

Topography: any (but generally reclamation)

Land Use: industrial, storage, warehousing or port-related

Built Form: low or medium rise

Other Relevant Characteristics: none

Boundary Definition: by reference to the extent of relevant land-uses and built form (usually road or lot boundary)

Precedence: takes precedence over all Rural LCTs.

Typical Appellation: 'XXXX Industrial Estate'; or 'XXXX Industrial Area'
　

Late 20C/Early 21C Commercial/Residential Complex Landscape

Topography: any (but generally reclamation)

Land Use: predominantly residential, commercial and retail land uses

Built Form: medium and high-rise towers on podiums

Other Relevant Characteristics: none

Boundary Definition: by reference to the extent of relevant land-uses and built form (usually road or lot boundary)

Precedence: takes precedence over all Rural LCTs.

Typical Appellation: 'XXXX Urban Area'
　

Low-rise Residential Urban Landscape

Topography: (any but plain in the case of Kowloon Tong)

Land Use: predominantly residential with some community and open space uses

Built Form: low or medium rise on wide streets

Other Relevant Characteristics: none

Boundary Definition: by reference to the extent of relevant land-uses and built form (usually road or lot boundary)

Precedence: takes precedence over all Rural LCTs.

Typical Appellation: 'XXXX Residential Area'
　

Medium / High-rise Commercial Urban Landscape

Topography: any (but generally reclamation)

Land Use: predominantly commercial and retail land uses.

Built Form: medium and high-rise.

Other Relevant Characteristics: none.

Boundary Definition: by reference to the extent of relevant land-use and built form (usually road or lot boundary)

Precedence: takes precedence over all Rural LCTs.

Typical Appellation: 'XXXX Commercial Area'.
　

Mixed Modern Comprehensive Urban Development Landscape

Topography: any (but generally reclamation)

Land Use: predominantly commercial and retail land uses with highways and community uses

Built Form: mixed height

Other Relevant Characteristics: comprehensive urban development within last 40 years

Boundary Definition: by reference to the extent of relevant land-uses (usually road or lot boundary)

Precedence: takes precedence over all Rural LCTs.

Typical Appellation: 'XXXX New Town Area'
　

Organic Mixed Urban Development Landscape

Topography: any (but generally hillsides)

Land Use: predominantly residential, commercial and retail land uses

Built Form: mixed height development and organic (i.e. non-orthogonal) street layout

Other Relevant Characteristics: none

Boundary Definition: by reference to the extent of relevant land-uses and built form (usually road or lot boundary)

Precedence: takes precedence over all Rural LCTs.

Typical Appellation: 'XXXX Urban Area'
　

Park Urban Landscape

Topography: any

Land Use: passive public open space (sometimes with active)

Built Form: low-rise

Other Relevant Characteristics: some vegetation

Boundary Definition: by reference to the extent of relevant land-uses (usually road or lot boundary)

Precedence: takes precedence over all Rural LCTs.

Typical Appellation: 'XXXX Park'
　

Residential Urban Landscape

Topography: any

Land Use: residential (and limited retail and community)

Built Form: medium and high-rise grouped in estates

Other Relevant Characteristics: generally not on podiums

Boundary Definition: by reference to the extent of relevant land-uses and built form (usually road or lot boundary)

Precedence: takes precedence over all Rural LCTs.

Typical Appellation: 'XXXX Estate' or 'XXXX Residential Area'
　

Rural Township Landscape

Topography: any (but generally coastal plain)

Land Use: predominantly retail, residential and community uses

Built Form: low or medium rise on narrow streets

Other Relevant Characteristics: generally in coastal location outside urban areas

Boundary Definition: by reference to the extent of relevant land-uses and built form (usually road or lot boundary)

Precedence: takes precedence over all Rural LCTs.

Typical Appellation: 'XXXX Township'

Coastal Waters Landscape Types

Bay Landscape

Topography: none (except for small islands <500m in any direction)

Land Use: predominantly undeveloped

Built Form: none (occasional small buildings on islands)

Other Relevant Characteristics: area coastal water enclosed by a continual coastline on 3 sides. The enclosing sides of the bay must be parallel at least one point. The mouth of the bay must be at least 500m wide and the bay must be at least 500m long from the mouth to the rear shoreline.

Boundary Definition: by reference to the extent of coastal water at mean high tide level. The mouth of the bay is identified approximately by a line linking the two furthermost points on the sides of the bay at which they face a direction parallel to the general orientation of the bay.

Precedence: takes precedence over Inshore Waters and Offshore Waters LCTs.

Typical Appellation: 'XXXX Bay'; or 'XXXX Wan'.
　

Inshore Water Landscape

Topography: none (except for small islands <500m in any direction)

Land Use: predominantly undeveloped

Built Form: none (occasional small buildings on islands)

Other Relevant Characteristics: area of coastal water contained on at least two sides by landmass or significant islands. Open sides are contained by other Coastal Waters LCTs (and not by the maritime boundary of the HKSR).

Boundary Definition: by reference to the extent of coastal water at mean high tide level. Separate LCAs are identified by reference to landforms and islands which serve to divide waters off into appropriate areas of distinct character.

Precedence: no conflict with other LCTs.
　

Inter-tidal Coast Landscape

Topography: predominantly inter-tidal

Land Use: predominantly undeveloped

Built Form: very few buildings

Other Relevant Characteristics: none

Boundary Definition: by reference to the extent of adjacent land-uses and built form (usually road, footpath, stream or lot boundary). On the seaward side, by reference to AFCD Habitat Map

Precedence: takes precedence over all Rural LCTs.

Typical Appellation: 'XXX Mudflat'; 'XXX Mangroves' or 'XXXX Intertidal Coast'
　

Island Landscape

Topography: any

Land Use: predominantly undeveloped

Built Form: very few buildings

Other Relevant Characteristics: island >500m in one direction that cannot be subdivided into any other LCAs

Boundary Definition: by reference to mean high tide level

Precedence: takes precedence over all Rural LCTs.

Typical Appellation: 'XXXX Island' or 'XXX Chau' etc.
　

Offshore Water Landscape

Topography: none (except for small islands <500m in any direction)

Land Use: predominantly undeveloped

Built Form: none (occasional small buildings on islands)

Other Relevant Characteristics: area of coastal water with two or more sides uncontained by landmasses and open to the open sea.

Boundary Definition: by reference to the extent of coastal water at mean high tide level. Separate LCAs are identified by reference to landforms and islands which serve to divide waters off into appropriate areas of distinct character. One edge will usually adjoin the maritime boundary of the HKSAR.

Precedence: no conflict with other LCTs.

Typical Appellation: 'XXXX Offshore Waters'.
　

Strait Landscape

Topography: none (except for small islands <500m in any direction)

Land Use: predominantly undeveloped

Built Form: none (occasional small buildings on islands)

Other Relevant Characteristics: area of coastal water contained on two sides by roughly parallel coastlines and open on two other sides, creating a significant sense of containment. 1500m was deemed to be the point at which there was no sense of significant enclosure, given the typical height of uplands in Hong Kong.

Boundary Definition: by reference to the extent of coastal water at mean high tide level. Straits must be at least 500m long. The mouth of each end of the strait is defined approximately by a line linking the two furthermost points on the sides of the strait at which they face a direction parallel to the general orientation of the bay.

Precedence: takes precedence over Inshore Waters LCT.

Typical Appellation: 'XXXX Channel’, ‘XXXX Harbour’

Typical Appellation: 'XXXX Inshore Waters', etc.
　

Typhoon Shelter Landscape

Topography: none (except for small islands <500m in any direction)

Land Use: predominantly undeveloped

Built Form: breakwaters, jetties, piers;

Other Relevant Characteristics: coastal water where vessels are moored. substantially enclosed by coast and offshore breakwater.

Boundary Definition: by reference to the extent of coastal water at mean high tide level. The mouth of the typhoon shelter is drawn from the end of one breakwater to the next or as a continuation of the breakwater to the coast.

Precedence: takes precedence over Inshore Waters, Offshore Waters and Typhoon Shelter Landscapes LCTs.

Typical Appellation: 'XXXX Typhoon Shelter’.