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HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT
and small weekend houses. These particular areas are men- tioned in the Chapter on Population. In the market towns, where two- or three-storey buildings have existed for many years, modern shop and tenement buildings differ little from those in Kowloon. For any building in reinforced concrete, or of other than traditional design, it is obligatory to employ an architect.
TOWN PLANNING
A preliminary planning report for Hong Kong was pre- pared by Sir Patrick Abercrombie in 1948. This set out the main lines along which long-term development should proceed. The population, however, has risen well beyond the limit of 2,000,000 envisaged at the time of Sir Patrick Abercrombie's visit in 1948. This has accelerated development in the Colony and produced significant alterations to the data on which the Report was based. Several large new reclama- tions, which had not been envisaged for many years to come, have already been completed or are advancing rapidly towards completion. The reconstruction of Kai Tak Airport, necessitated by world developments in aviation, has led to other alterations, and the growth of industry has required the development of Kun Tong and Tsuen Wan as industrial
centres.
Wherever possible, however, the main intentions of the Report are being followed. Within the preliminary pattern given in it, the preparation of outline development plans is undertaken by a small Town Planning Unit, which is part of the Public Works Department and co-ordinates governmental work on planning problems. The plans set out the principles to be followed in the improvement of any district concerned, and, when necessary, are broken down into greater detail to show the lay-out of specified zones.
As the Government owns the freehold of virtually all land in the Colony, there is little or no impediment to the con- trolled use of unleased Crown land. When planned improve-