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LAND AND HOUSING
New Territories it was extended for another year to map a number of areas above the 600-foot contour where the boundaries of cul- tivated areas are raising land administration problems.
Production continued of the new edition of the 1:2,400 series of plans of the urban areas, by 'compilation' from the large-scale basic plans. The use of the 'scribing' technique was extended to the re- drawing of large-scale plans; several sheets of the New Territories at 1:4,800 scale were also under preparation by this method.
Production of the first edition of the 1:10,000 map series was completed by the Directorate of Overseas Surveys in Britain. Two sheets (covering Kwai Chung and Kowloon) were revised by the Survey Branch and reprinted by the military survey authorities at Singapore. Revision of another two sheets (covering Hong Kong Island) was well advanced and arrangements are being made with the Government Printer to print up to 10 revised sheets a year commencing in 1971. Each new sheet published will be in dual- language (English/Chinese) form. The first 'pilot' sheet (of Kowloon) has already been printed. It is hoped that these maps will be popular with the public and that they can be sold at a relatively low price.
Of the 20 sheets covering the Colony at 1:25,000 scale, which are produced by reduction of the 1:10,000 maps by the Directorate of Overseas Surveys, 16 sheets of the first edition have now been pub- lished. Subsequent editions will be published by the Directorate of Military Surveys in Britain. As each 'block' of four sheets at 1:10,000 scale is revised by the Survey Branch of Crown Lands and Survey Office copies of the revised sheets will be sent to the Directorate to be used in the preparation of 2nd Edition maps at 1:25,000 scale.
Several completely new maps are in preparation in the drawing office. They include a 1:50,000 scale map of the Colony in two sheets, which will be printed in several colours and put on sale to the public early in 1971. This should be very useful to the public and to motorists in particular. The first sheet of a new 'Country-side' series, covering Hong Kong Island, is almost completed and should also be on sale early in 1971. It shows scenic walks, picnic areas and recreational facilities and should be popular with walkers, residents and tourists. Other sheets in the series of popular scenic areas of the New Territories will be produced in due course.