Initial list of landscape character types and landscape character areas

4.1           INTRODUCTION

4.1.1         As well as identifying the list of Landscape Classification Parameters (identified in Section 2 above), the Study Brief requires that under Task 2, the Consultants "establish an initial system of landscape categories and conduct an outline selection of landscape character types (LCTs) and landscape character areas (LCAs)" (para 6.3(1)).

4.1.2         The Study Brief defines LCTs as "generic areas which have a broadly similar patterns of landform, vegetation, land use and urban settlement in every area where it occurs..." and LCAs as "the individual geographic areas in which there may be a number of LCT and by combination of these landscape types to create a distinctive pattern [sic]. They may share the characteristics of other areas of similar type but have their own particular identity" (at para 6.3(1)).

4.1.3         The UK Countryside Commission (1993) describes the process of classification as "an activity whereby the landscape is sorted into different types or units, each with a distinct, consistent and recognisable character." These units are termed Landscape Character Types (LCTs) and Landscape Character Areas (LCAs).

4.1.4         It is important to understand that each LCA, or geographically unique area of landscape, is also an example of a particular LCT, or generic type of landscape. So for example, Repulse Bay, Cheung Sha and Tai Long Wan are all geographically unique and separate landscapes, or LCAs. At the same time, they are also all examples of a single LCT, called 'Beach Landscape'. This relationship is illustrated in Figure 4.1. The boundaries of LCTs/LCAs are in fact the same.

4.2            LCTS/LCAS AT DIFFERENT SCALES

4.2.1         LCTs/LCAs can be defined at a range of scales, from strategic down to local. There are however critical upper and lower limits to the scale. At the broader level, the maximum extent of LCTs/LCAs correlates to a considerable extent with the concept of 'natural areas' a term coined by geographers to define units of land with coherent and independent geology, geomorphology, drainage and natural systems. Hackett (1971, p.29) states that:

4.2.2         "we can say that natural areas constitute areas of natural landscape which have in their soil, climate, plant and animal life a sufficient semblance of uniformity to justify delineating them as such."

4.2.3         Natural areas therefore tend to be relatively large areas of regional or sub-regional scale, corresponding to changes in underlying geology, hydrological systems and ecosystems. Natural areas define the upper limit of the scale at which it is reasonable to define LCTs/LCAs.

4.2.4         At the smallest scale, there is also a lower size for LCTs/LCAs which is defined by the critical dimension of the term 'landscape'. The term 'landscape' normally implies a certain minimum size, being the area of land which can be taken in by a single view. The point here, is that it is erroneous to define LCTs and LCAs that are so small that the term 'landscape' becomes wholly confused with the term 'land-use'.

4.2.5         The UK Countryside Commission (1999) suggests that assessments can be carried out at national, regional, district and local levels, whilst the Welsh LANDMAP describes four levels of assessment, (only one of which was actually used operationally for classification.)

4.2.6         Within the limits defined above and on the basis of experience in other studies, the Hong Kong landscape can be seen as a nested series of LCT/LCAs at the following scales:

4.2.7         A breakdown of the Hong Kong landscape into LCT/LCAs at these different scales is shown in Table 4.1.

                 SCALE OF CLASSIFICATION FOR THE CURRENT STUDY

4.2.8         The Study Brief makes certain stipulations which make it simple to determine from the various scales identified above, the appropriate operational scale for the classification and for the current Study.

4.2.9         Clause 6.6.(5) of the Brief requires that LCTs and LCAs be defined at a scale of 1:10,000. This is the scale which the UK Countryside Commissions terms "the local scale" (Countryside Commission, 1999, para 2.17). This suggests that the appropriate scale of assessment for the Study is the 'local scale' defined in Table 4.1, a feature reinforced by the requirement of Clause 6.8(4) that LCT/LCAs be on average 5 hectares in size.

4.2.10       Therefore the orientation and requirements of the Study Brief dictate that the 'Local' level of assessment identified in Table 4.1 will be the appropriate scale for classification and assessment in this Study.

4.3           DEFINITION OF BOUNDARIES FOR LCTS/LCAS

4.3.1         This section of the report discusses the ways in which the boundaries of LCTs and LCAs should be defined.

4.3.2         The requirement to divide the landscape of Hong Kong into coherent character units presents the difficulty that landscape character generally changes gradually between two areas in a way to which a line drawn on a map cannot do justice. The UK Countryside Agency (1999, pp. 56-57) states that:

4.3.3         "In reality of course, the landscape is a continuum and character does not, in general, change abruptly...While landscape character may be clearly defined and distinctive in the centre of a landscape type or area, there may be transitions at the edges¡Kand in these cases, drawing a firm line on the ground may suggest a much more obvious change than is really apparent on the ground...[In] more detailed assessments, it is usually better to incorporate a statement in maps and reports to indicate the status and meaning of boundary lines and their limitations."

4.3.4         Just how to represent adequately change in landscape character on the ground and how to define boundaries has been addressed by The UK Countryside Commission (1993, p.23). They state that:

4.3.5         "In areas of high relief, divisions are most easily based on landform units such as edges, plateaux and valleys, with marked changes in slope such as ridge-lines forming the boundaries between character areas...However in more gentle lowland landscapes other characteristics such as land-cover and field patterns may come into play. Ideally elements of both approaches should be included".

4.3.6         The Countryside Commission (1993) also recommends that when defining areas of landscape (for designation) that one should identify "boundaries that follow clearly definable features on the ground".

4.3.7         The rules set out above are likely to work reasonably well in Hong Kong. However, there remains the issue of coastal landscapes, where sea and land are both included in a landscape. This presents certain unusual difficulties with regard to boundary definition. It is therefore proposed that the most practical method of handling such features is as follows:

4.4           INITIAL LIST OF LOCAL LCTS/LCAS

4.4.1         This section of the report sets out an initial list of Local LCTs/LCAs. The landscape parameters or characteristics which are the most important in defining the landscape character of LCTs/LCAs vary depending on circumstances (these are termed 'critical landscape parameters'). In urban areas for example, land use is the determining factor, or critical landscape parameter, whilst in rural areas, it is landform. Therefore the definition of LCTs/LCAs depends on these critical landscape parameters.

4.4.2         LCTs may be given codes which reflect their place in the hierarchy of LCTs at different scales as well as referencing the key characteristics of the LCT. Therefore, LCTs at the highest level of classification (regional) are defined by only one code letter, LCTs in the second (sub-regional) level, by two code letters, LCTs in the third (district) level by three code letters, whilst LCTs at the smallest (Local) scale are referenced by three code letters plus a numeric reference. The codes for each LCT are shown in Table 4.1.

                 LOCAL LEVEL LANDSCAPE CHARACTER TYPES

4.4.3         This section of the report briefly describes the characteristics and defining features of Local Landscape Character Types (LCTs). Below is set out an initial list of LCT's, based on the hierarchical system described (together with a code referencing each LCT). It should be noted that this list is preliminary and will be subject to continual revision throughout the course of the Study. Photographs illustrating a selection of the proposed LCTs are illustrated in Figure 4.2, Figure 4.3 and Figure 4.4.

4.4.4         To test the application of the proposed LLCTs, two trial areas, in Central and Ma On Shan, have been analysed. The results are indicated in Figure 4.5 and Figure 4.6.

                 Grassy Hills and Peaks              Ref: Rh(k)1

4.4.5         These landscapes comprise the highest peaks in Hong Kong. They are remote and exposed upland landscapes, generally above circa 300mPD, characterised by rocky precipitous crags, peaks and ridges. Predominantly grass-covered, they contain small areas of scrub and woodland developing in sheltered ravines and valleys, e.g. Tai Mo Shan, Kai Kung Leng.

                Scrub-Covered Hills and Peaks            Ref: Rh(k)2

 4.4.6         These are upland landscapes below 400mPD where there is sufficient shelter to allow the development of scrub and limited woodland vegetation. They are less precipitous and craggy than Rh(K)1 above, and without the same sense of isolation. In more sheltered ravines and valleys, there is often significant woodland vegetation, e.g. Tai Tam.

                Wooded Uplands and Peaks            Ref: Rh(k)3

4.4.7         These are upland landscapes, generally below 400mPD, where a significant area of woodland has re-established, either through natural regeneration, or through plantation, e.g. Tai Po Kau, Tsuen Kam Au.

                Badlands                     Ref: Rh(k)4

4.4.8         These landscapes lie in upland areas where soils have been deeply eroded by weathering and chemical decomposition. This results in a highly eroded landscape of bare soil gullies and ravines with only sporadic vegetation cover on less eroded areas, e.g. Castle Peak.

                Boulder Field                     Ref: Rh(k)5

4.4.9         These are areas, usually on the lower slopes of hillsides, where superficial boulders (often of very large size) which have broken away higher up the slope, have come to rest. This results in a striking landscape consisting of scrub covered hillside littered with numerous boulders of varying sizes, e.g. Castle Peak.

                Former Upland Agriculture            Ref: Rh(k)6

4.4.10       These are upland hillsides which have in the past been terraced to form agricultural fields. Almost all of these landscapes have been abandoned and are being re-colonised by upland flora, leaving only their distinct topographic patterns, e.g. Luk Keng.

                Upland Valley                 Ref: Rh(a)1

4.4.11       Generally found above 100mPD, these are small-scale, but significant, valley landscapes. They are characterised by their steep hillsides, natural qualities, the rocky streams, which tumble down them, together with riparian vegetation, e.g. upper Tung Chung Valley, Route Twisk Valley.

                Plains and Isolated Hills            Ref: Rl(p)1

4.4.12       These are lowland former agricultural plains studded with low hills and wooded knolls. Plains contain fields and scattered groups of trees and villages (at the bases of hills). Farmland is increasingly degraded with the influence of incoherent uses such as storage yards, breaking yards, etc., e.g. - Ping Che, Lau Fau Shan, Lok Ma Chau.

                Coastal Plain Farmland            Ref: Rl(p)2

4.4.13       These are agricultural landscapes found on coastal plains. Bordered by higher ground to the rear and by the sea, these are landscapes where field systems are still generally intact. Villages, knolls and blocks of woodland are scattered across the coastal plain, e.g. Pak Kok, Lamma Island.

                Coastal Plain Farmland with Other Uses    Ref: Rl(p)3

4.4.14         These are degraded agricultural landscapes found on coastal plains. Villages, knolls and blocks of woodland are scattered across the coastal plain, but former agricultural use has given way to an incoherent mixture of uses such as storage yards, parking, golf driving ranges, and housing development, resulting in an increasingly diverse and incoherent landscape, e.g. Sai Sha/Whitehead Peninsula.

                Fish-ponds                     Ref: Rl(p)4

4.4.15       These landscape comprise extensive lowland areas of fish-ponds, located side-by-side with only a narrow bund between each one. This results in a visually dramatic, coherent landscape in which there is more water than land. The only other landscape features include occasional buildings and trees, e.g. Fung Lok Wai.

                Valley Floor Farmland                 Ref: Rl(a)5

4.4.16       These are low lying agricultural areas, with a coherent pattern of features including scattered blocks of vegetation, villages, remnant fields (many of which are still worked), e.g. parts of Sha Tau Kok Valley.

                Valley Floor Farmland with Other Uses        Ref: Rl(a)6

4.4.17       These are degraded, low lying agricultural areas, with scattered blocks of vegetation, scattered villages. Remnant fields are largely disused and have been succeeded by scrub and woodland or by incoherent mixtures of uses, such as village housing, transport infrastructure car breaking, golf driving, container storage, etc., e.g. Kam Tin Valley, So Kwun Wat.

                High-rise Commercial Urban Landscape    Ref: Du(c)1

4.4.18       Located on low-lying and reclaimed urban land, these are prestige commercial and retail areas. Characterised by narrow and medium width streets, high-rise commercial and retail uses, modern, prestige architecture and limited street tree planting, e.g. Central, Tsim Sha Tsui, Quarry Bay (Tong Chong Street).

                Medium-rise Commercial Urban Landscape    Ref: Du(c)2

4.4.19       Located on low-lying and reclaimed urban land, these are commercial landscapes which are characterised by medium-rise commercial and retail development, modern architecture, limited street tree planting and occasional open spaces, e.g. East Tsim Sha Tsui.

                Retail Mall                     Ref: Du(c)3

4.4.20       An 'inverted' urban pattern found across Hong Kong, these landscape are characterised by large low-rise mall complexes, internalising pedestrian circulation, and turning their back on streets, which become mainly traffic arteries. They usually comprise a retail podium with residential or commercial towers above and are defined by modern architecture, forming extensive networks, e.g. Sha Tin New Town Plaza, Ocean Terminal, Ma On Shan town centre, Tsuen Wan town centre.

                Historic Institutional Urban Landscape        Ref: Du(x)1

4.4.21       These landscapes form part of the historic core of HK Island, and comprise the remnant civic landscapes from the 19C and early 20C. Characterised by moderately wide streets, often on hillsides, with a high incidence of 19C and early 20C Civic Buildings, they are set amidst extensive areas of natural and semi-natural green space, e.g. Legco / Statue Square area, Lower Albert Road, Botanic Gardens, HK University area.

                High-rise Housing Estate            Ref: Du(r)1

4.4.22       These are extensive areas of medium and high-rise housing towers grouped together in an estate, on flat or terraced land, forming a single landscape, set amongst limited amount of open space. e.g. Chi Fu Fa Yuen, Wah Fu, Sai Ying Pun, Ap Lei Chau, South Horizons.

                Intermittent High-rise Residential Urban Landscape    Ref: Du(r)2

4.4.23       These landscapes are characterised by intermittent tall residential towers on steep hillsides, with winding roads, interspersed by wooded hillsides, e.g. Robinson Road, Conduit Road, Pokfulam.

                Low-rise Residential Urban Landscape        Ref: Du(r)3

4.4.24       These are a low-lying urban landscapes characterised by low-rise residential development, wide streets, often lined with mature trees, e.g. Kowloon Tong.

                Low-Density Mixed Urban Landscape        Ref: Du(m)1

4.4.25       There are areas of urban landscape characterised by their mixture of land uses, mixed scales of development, intermittent open spaces and often incoherent urban structure. Very common throughout Hong Kong, these landscapes typically include schools, G/IC facilities, highways infrastructure and scattered housing. Vegetation includes street trees, natural hillsides and occasional parks.

                High-Density Mixed Urban Landscape        Ref: Du(m)2

4.4.26       These landscapes comprise flat topography, small-scale streets, in rectilinear pattern, and high building density with very limited street planting. They are characterised by their retail and entertainment uses at ground floor level and by their extremely high densities of pedestrians, e.g. Causeway Bay, Mongkok Fa Yuen Street Area, parts of TST.

                Historic Mixed Urban Landscape        Ref: Du(m)3

4.4.27       Part of the historic core of HK Island, these areas are found on the lower hillsides of Hong Kong Island. They are characterised by narrow streets traversing and winding up the hillsides or following the alignment of original coastlines. Land use compenses is dense, mixed uses with a high incidence of historic buildings and limited street tree planting and pocket parks, e.g. SOHO, Western, Morrison Hill, Wellington Street, Queens Road East and West.

                Reclaimed Mixed Urban Landscape        Ref: Du(m)4

4.4.28       These are the first areas in HK Island and Kowloon reclaimed from Victoria Harbour. Usually reclaimed during the early 20C, they lie on flat, reclaimed land, with narrow streets, rectilinear street pattern, dense mixed uses, older building age, with limited street tree planting, and occasional pocket parks, e.g. Sai Ying Pun, North Point, Wanchai, Yau Ma Tei, Sham Shui Po, and To Kwa Wan.

                Urban Park                     Ref: Du(o)1

4.4.29       These landscapes comprise major parks, which are large enough to form their own landscape units. Often former military sites, these are extensive areas of recently constructed green space found in the centres of the urban areas. Generally, vegetation is young or semi-mature, e.g. Hong Kong Park, Kowloon Park.

                Warehousing and Factories            Ref: Du(i)1

4.4.30       These are a landscapes defined by tall industrial buildings constructed side by side in very dense arrangements. Streets are almost residual spaces, with little or no vegetation. On the peripheries, there are often areas of vacant land (e.g. Wong Chuk Hang, Kwun Tong, Kwai Chung, Ap Lei Chau Industrial Estate.

                Industrial Estate                 Ref: Du(i)2

4.4.31       These are extensive areas of large low-rise scattered buildings with wide roads, which are often tree lined. This type is found on the edges of New Towns, e.g. Tai Po Industrial Estate, Yuen Long Industrial Estate.

                Institutional/Commercial Urban Waterfront    Ref: Du(w)1

4.4.32       These are waterfront public and civic and commercial landscapes characterised by flat topography, large low-rise civic buildings or ferry terminals, commercial buildings with extensive, predominantly hard landscaped areas between them, e.g. TST Civic Complex, Wanchai Exhibition Centre Extension. 

                High-rise Waterfront Housing            Ref: Du(w)2

4.4.33       These are coastal landscapes defined by their proximity to the sea and by the dense medium and high-rise residential estates fronting onto it. Generally, there will be a formal interface with the sea, such as a promenade or sea wall, along the sea front as well as small open spaces between residential buildings (e.g. Ap Lei Chau).

                Docklands/Container Terminal            Ref: Du(w)3

4.4.34       These are port landscapes defined by their proximity to the sea, extensive, medium rise industrial buildings and port-related infrastructure, with little or no vegetation, e.g. Kwai Chung, Tsing Yi, Aberdeen Harbour.

                Waterfront Park                 Ref: Du(w)4

4.4.35       These are extensive open spaces fronting onto the sea, large enough to form their own landscape units. They comprise largely soft landscape, and whilst vegetation is usually not mature, they have a coherent, relatively peaceful quality provided by their proximity to the sea, with which there is usually a formal interface, e.g. Tai Po Waterfront Park, Ma On Shan Park, Quarry Bay Park.

                Marina                      Ref: Du(w)5

4.4.36       These are small-scale public and private waterfront landscapes characterised by small low-rise recreational buildings, such as yacht clubs, recreational facilities marinas, mooring etc., e.g. Causeway Bay Marina, Aberdeen Yacht Club.

                Typhoon Shelter                 Ref: Du(w)6

4.4.37       These are man-made landscapes forming small-scale harbours. Characterised by breakwaters, dense patterns of moored fishing boats and san-pans and considerable activity and colour, e.g. Causeway Bay Typhoon Shelter, Aberdeen Harbour.

                Undeveloped and Ongoing Reclamation    Ref: Du(w)7

4.4.38       These are landscapes which have recently been reclaimed from the sea and which are awaiting or are in the process of development. Characterised by flat, open topography, coastal proximity, fragmented infrastructure or development and covering of grasses or scrub, e.g. West Kowloon, Tolo Harbour.

                Low-Rise Residential Suburb            Ref: Df(r)1

4.4.39       Generally located on hillsides or uplands, these are residential landscapes comprising small-scale houses, mature street tree planting, set in extensive areas of mature woodland vegetation - e.g. Shouson Hill, outskirts of Stanley, Jardine's Lookout, Chung Hom Kok, Mount Kellett.

                Low-Rise Suburban Housing Estate        Ref: Df(r)2

4.4.40       These are residential landscapes comprising small-scale relatively uniform housing 'estates', often constructed over the last decade or so, with some street tree planting, e.g. Redhill, Fairview Park.

                Mixed Urban Fringe Landscape             Ref: Df(m)1

4.4.41       These are landscapes found on the periphery of the major urban areas. They are a residual landscape type comprising roads, highways structures, vegetated hillsides (often stabilised), scattered residential development, open space, GIC, construction work, etc., e.g. Lei Yue Mun Road, Pokfulam Road.

                Institutions in Vegetated Setting        Ref: Df(x)1

4.4.42       These landscapes are found on the edges of the urban areas, and are very low density landscapes characterised by lowland topography and low-rise institutional uses (prisons, hospitals, sports pitches, youth camps) set among ample open and green space, e.g. Aberdeen Tunnel area, Stanley Prison area, Pokfulam Sports Pitches area.

                Cemetery                     Ref: Df(x)23

4.4.43       Extensive landscapes in their own right, these landscapes generally lie on the edge of conurbations and are defined by their hillside locations overlooking the sea, and dense terraces of graves / columbaria, e.g. Pokfulam, Chai Wan.

                Airports                     Ref: Df(w)1

4.4.44       These are flat, open and expansive landscapes comprising extensive areas of runway and grass verge with significant terminal complexes and outbuildings. Other than grass, vegetation is limited to access roads and areas around buildings, e.g. Chek Lap Kok, Shek Kong.

                Scattered Developments in Countryside             Ref: Dg(r)1

4.4.45       These are landscapes on the mid and upper levels of hillsides, containing scattered medium and high-rise housing, just beyond the urban fringe. These are overwhelmingly natural areas, comprising wooded hillsides and slopes with scattered low, medium and high-rise residential development, (but not village house or 'estate' development). This includes some of the most prestigious housing areas in Hong Kong, e.g. Victoria Peak area, upper Repulse Bay Valley, Tai Tam, area between Shek O and Big Wave Bay.

                Resort-type Development            Ref: Dg(r)2

4.4.46       Found in more remote parts of the NT and Islands, these are low-density developments, often in coastal locations, with mixed low-rise and medium-rise residential buildings, set amidst ample 'landscaped' open space, marina facilities, beach, etc., e.g. Discovery Bay, Gold Coast, Sea Ranch.

                Consolidated Village                 Ref: Dg(v)1

4.4.47       These are landscapes of the central areas of older villages in outlying areas which have developed a certain critical mass and diversity of uses, to become small townships. Typically found in coastal locations, they are characterised by narrow streets, tight street pattern, low- and medium-rise buildings, mixed retail and residential uses and limited street tree or open space vegetation, e.g. Sai Kung, Stanley, Shek O, Yung Shue Wan.

                Expanded Village                 Ref: Dg(v)2

4.4.48       These landscapes were once isolated villages in their traditional rural setting, which have grown considerably in recent years. Modern village housing and the encroachment of urban fringe development have changed the spatial relationship of the village as well as its setting. They are characterised by residual historic buildings with considerable modern infill, loss of surrounding agricultural fields, which have been replaced by urban fringe, rural fringe uses or infrastructure development.

                Historic Villages and Environs             Ref: Dg(v)3

4.4.49       These landscapes comprise the older villages across Hong Kong that maintain their traditional relationship of housing, fung shui woodland and agricultural fields. Such villages typically include vestigial historic buildings and shrines, although there may be some limited recent infill village housing.

                Walled Village                 Ref: Dg(v)4

4.4.50       These landscapes consist of walled villages or 'wai' found in the New Territories. They are small and very compact village landscapes consisting of tightly grouped houses arranged in a rectilinear pattern separated by small lanes, with the whole village surrounded by a defensive wall, which is largely intact. Walled villages are characterised by numerous existing historic buildings, usually with an infill of modern village housing.

                Squatter Settlement            Ref: Dg(v)5

4.4.51       These landscapes consist of significant clusters of once-temporary structures, which have been added to and made more substantial, so that they form significant permanent villages in their own right. Such settlements are often extensions of existing villages, but over time have subsumed the existing village and its structures. They characterised by a compact urban form and a wide variety of building materials, e.g. Wong Chuk Hang area.

                Power Station                 Ref: Dg(w)1

4.4.52       Power Stations in Hong Kong are located on the coast, principally due to the requirements to ship coal into them. These are extensive industrial landscapes, which include large buildings, storage tanks, vent stacks, as well as coal stock piles, conveyors and wharves, e,g. Lamma Power Station, Castle Peak Power Station.

                Ash Lagoon                     Ref: Dg(w)2

4.4.53       Related to the above landscape type, these are low lying, expansive coastal landscapes comprising a number of large artificial lagoons next to the sea, where ash is left to settle out, e.g. Black Point Power Station.

                Quarry                     Ref: Dg(y)1

4.4.54       These landscapes comprise areas of disturbed landscapes located in upland areas just beyond the urban fringe. They are characterised by disturbance to natural landforms, the presence of plant and associated buildings and extensive lorry movements, etc., e.g. Shek O Quarry, Anderson Road Quarry.

                Landfill                     Ref: Dg(y)2

4.4.55       These are extensive areas of degraded landscape located in or on the edges of the countryside. Characterised by artificial earthworks, plant, associated buildings and extensive lorry movements, etc. - e.g. SENT Landfill, WENT Landfill.

                Military Camp                     Ref: Dg(y)3

4.4.56       These are extensive areas of lowland landscape, in which are located scattered groups of low-rise barracks and other buildings. These are generally former British military facilities which have a considerable parkland-type vegetation, much of which is now mature, e.g. Fanling, Ngau Tam Mei, Shek Kong.

                Golf Course                     Ref: Dg(y)4

4.4.57       These are Landscapes which have been adapted to golf course use and which are now watered and intensively managed. The result are green, well groomed landscapes, e.g. - Fanling, Deep Water Bay, Shek O Country Club.

                Reservoir                     Ref: Dg(y)5

4.4.58       These are upland landscapes which surround areas of artificially impounded water. They are extensive landscapes of few features other than dams, water and pumping stations. Surrounding slopes are usually well wooded - e.g. Aberdeen Reservoir, Plover Cove Reservoir.

                Salt Marsh                     Ref: Cn(t)1

4.4.59        These are low-lying coastal landscapes, comprising open water and reed beds. Generally located in unspoilt coastal areas, they are simple, expansive landscapes with a remote and tranquil character, e.g. Luk Keng, So Lo Pun.

                Mud Flat                     Ref: Cn(t)2

4.4.60       Lying in shallow coastal waters, these are ephemeral landscapes comprising mud banks and sea. At high tide, these landscapes may totally disappear, whilst at low tide, they comprise expansive areas of water and mud with a desolate and remote character, e.g. Deep Bay, So Kwu Wan.

                Mangrove                     Ref: Cn(t)3

4.4.61       These are complex inter-tidal landscapes of sheltered creeks and lagoons, surrounded by mangrove vegetation. They are characterised by the interaction of land and water, by specific species of mangrove vegetation and by their tranquil, maritime character, e.g. Inner Deep Bay.

                Gei Wai                     Ref: Cn(t)4

4.4.62       Gei wai are a series of tidal pools created in order to catch shrimp. This results in a distinctive inter - tidal landscape of pools and sluices, many of which are still active. Those which have been abandoned are slowly colonised by mangrove species, e.g. Deep Bay.

                Rocky Island                     Ref: Cn(d)1

4.4.63       These are landscapes consisting of both small rocky islands and surrounding areas of sea. Such islands are too small to constitute a landscape in their own right and are generally steep-sided rocky outcrops with grass and limited scrub vegetation. In these maritime landscapes the sea is as important as the land and in combination, they often produce a visually dramatic and isolated landscape character, e.g. Green Island.

                Isolated Island Group                 Ref: Cn(d)2

4.4.64       Similar to the type above, these are landscapes consisting of several tiny islands scattered across an area of sea, but close enough to each other to form a maritime landscape unit. Individual islands are too small to constitute a terrestrial landscape in themselves and are generally steep-sided rocks emerging from the sea, with some grass and scrub cover. This landscape type is defined by the relationship of the rocky islands to each other and to the sea, resulting in a complex and dramatic maritime landscape, e.g. The Brothers, island groups in Port Shelter.

                Cliff                         Ref: Cn(s)1

4.4.65       These are narrow coastal landscapes comprising dramatic cliff formations rising sharply from the sea. They consist of cliffs, sea and the immediate hinterland, producing large-scale visually dramatic and exposed coastal landscape, e.g. Ping Chau, Kau Sai Chau.

                Rocky Shoreline                  Ref: Cn(s)2

4.4.66       These are narrow, rocky, coastal landscapes comprising rocky shoreline rising from the sea, the sea itself and the immediate hinterland. At a certain level above high tide, there is usually sporadic grass and scrub vegetation. The overall effect is to produce a rugged and exposed landscape, characterised by the relationship of land and sea, e.g. Cape D'Aguilar.

                Beach                     Ref: Cn(s)3

4.4.67       These are narrow, low-lying coastal landscapes, characterised by the accretion of sand into beach formations. These landscapes comprise beach, sea and the immediate hinterland, which is usually covered by littoral vegetation. Beach landscapes are usually located in bays of land which allow beaches to form. Therefore, there is usually to some degree, a sense of enclosure in these landscapes. At the same time however, because of the presence of the sea, they also have an exposed, maritime character, e.g. Tai Long Wan, Cheung Sha.

                Urban Harbour                     Ref: Cw(u)1

4.4.68       These are the waters which lie within large urban harbours. They are characterised by considerable movement of small shipping, ferries and pleasure craft, with high levels of movement, colour and diversity, as well as increased levels of visible pollution, e.g. Victoria Harbour.

                Anchorage                     Ref: Cw(q)1

4.4.69       These landscapes lie generally close to the shore of port areas and are areas of coastal water where large vessels and barges anchor to load and unload goods. They are characterised by the presence of large numbers of vessels lying at anchor with lighters and tenders moving back and forth between them. Such landscape possesses considerable diversity and movement, e.g. area west of Stonecutters Island.

                Shipping Lane                 Ref: Cw(q)2

4.4.70       These are coastal waters which act as major international shipping lanes for large vessels. They are characterised by the presence of relatively large numbers of such vessels, by considerable movement and swell, e.g. East Lamma Channel.

                Tranquil Coastal Waters            Ref: Cw(y)1

4.4.71       These are offshore waters in remote coastal areas where there is little or no marine traffic, except for occasional pleasure craft. Fish farms may also be found in such waters and levels of visible pollution are generally lower than elsewhere, e.g. Tolo Harbour, Sai Kung Coast.

                LANDSCAPE CHARACTER AREAS

4.4.72       In order to test the methodology identified above and begin to identify LCA's corresponding to the LCT's identified above, a classification exercise was carried out on two trial areas. The landscape of the two trial areas was classified at the Local (1:10,0000 or 5 hectare unit) scale. The first of the trial areas is in the Ma On Shan area of the New Territories, whilst the second is in the Central/Sheung Wan area of Hong Kong Island. The results of the tials are illustrated in Figure 4.2, Figure 4.3, Figure 4.4,  Figure 4.5 and Figure 4.6.

4.4.73       The trial areas demonstrate that a classification of LCTs/LCAs at the Local level is both appropriate and workable. Each LCT defined in the trials is also a specific LCA with its own unique characteristics.

4.4.74       During the remaining part of the Study, a comprehensive breakdown of the entire Hong Kong landscape into LCTs/LCAs will be produced. At that stage it will be possible to identify a comprehensive set of LCAs for the SAR as a whole.

 

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