LAND AND HOUSING
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The first edition of the dual language 1:50,000 maps, published in October 1971 was sold out by January 1972. Minor amendments were made to the map and the second edition was published in February 1972. Sales of this map continue to be good. The folded 'tourist map', completely recompiled and redesigned, was published in May 1972 under the new title Hong Kong Official Guide. End-plate maps were pro- duced for a Japanese version of an introductory guide to Hong Kong produced by the Government Information Services, and revised end-plates were also produced for this Annual Report.
As a first step towards metrication of maps and plans, work commenced in September 1972 with the addition of a metric grid and scale on the 1:600 and 1:1,200 survey plans. The second step in this conversion exercise is the change of imperial spot heights and contour values on large, scale plans to metric equivalents which is expected to begin in January 1973.
In the photo-reprographic section, production continued at a high rate through- out the year. New equipment installed during the year was the 'Whirler', a centrifugal plate coating machine for general topographical map production, and a large format process camera which is capable of absolute precision in the changing of scale and will be invaluable in 1973 with the change to metric scales.
A Mapping Exhibition was held in the Ocean Terminal in May which attracted considerable public interest. It lasted for seven days and all available stocks of maps and plans put on sale were sold out. As a result of the interest created by the exhibi- tion, demand for maps and plans has continued to be heavy.
There is a Drawing Office in each District Office of the New Territories Adminis- tration and a small one in Headquarters, all under the control of the District Commis- sioner, New Territories. These drawing offices are responsible for cadastral survey and the production of plans and maps in connection with land administration in the New Territories.
Town Planning
The two bodies mainly responsible for town planning in Hong Kong are the Town Planning Board, chaired by Director of Public Works and comprising eight official and five unofficial members, and the Land Development Planning Committee, chaired by the Deputy Colonial Secretary and comprising seven official members. The functions of the Planning Branch of the Crown Lands and Survey Office include the servicing of these two bodies. There are three main levels of planning which proceed from general concepts to development projects. They are: firstly, the Colony Outline Plan; secondly, statutory outline zoning plans; and thirdly, departmental plans in the form of planning guides, outline development plans and planning layouts.
The Colony Outline Plan, which is based on a data bank of land use and demo- graphic information and the findings of six inter-departmental working committees, was prepared and revised under the guidance of the Land Development Planning Committee. It provides a framework for all other planning activities and sets out general planning concepts for future population distribution and development. The plan recommends standards for the provision of community facilities; suggests the