LAND AND HOUSING
169
fully occupied with exemption proceedings under the provisions of the Landlord and Tenant Ordinance, with compensation to tenants remaining at a high level.
On 7th October 1959 Government announced the conclusion of an agreement with the Admiralty providing for the surrender of a large part of the Hong Kong Naval Dockyard and the entire Kowloon Naval Yard. In return Government undertook to pay the Admiralty the sum of $7,000,000 over seven years, the first instalment being due on 1st July 1960. The traffic bottleneck between the centre of Victoria and the important commercial and residential districts in the eastern part of the Island will thus be eliminated, and some 962,000 square feet of valuable land in the very heart of the town will become available for redevelopment. The areas are to be planned in conjunction with the military lands in the vicinity of Murray Barracks, the surrender of which was announced in 1958.
Surveys. All surveys in Hong Kong are plotted on the Colony Grid which is a Cassini Plane Rectangular one with its origin on Victoria Peak. The grid meridian does not coincide with the True Meridian at this point.
The main triangulation, which is of a secondary order of accuracy, was observed in the 1920's, and was adjusted_by the War Office in 1928-30. Minor triangulation stations have been established over the years during the course of surveys in specific areas, and the Horizontal Control further broken down by travers- ing. During the year 93 triangulation stations were established and 108 miles of main traverses run.
The urban area of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and New Kowloon is surveyed at the large scale of 1/600 (50′ = 1′′). This is necessary for the congested and crowded conditions in the built- up areas of the Colony. An unusual feature of this survey is that for the convenience of the Public Works Department, Police and utility companies detailed objects such as lamp posts and fire hydrants are shown.
The New Territories which are still largely rural are surveyed at a scale of 1/1,200 (100′ = 1′′). This again is a large scale because of the intricate fragmentation of land holdings in the
area.