HOUSING AND LAND
Electrification of Squatter Areas
97
The Lion Rock pilot scheme to provide a legal power supply to squatter structures was extended during 1977. At December 31, a total of 20,000 people living in 3,900 structures in 13 squatter areas were benefitting from the electrification scheme. In the past, the majority of residents lived without any power while the minority illegally tapped supplies from public lighting. The extension of a proper supply in these areas has greatly improved living conditions.
Town Planning
The overall objective of town planning in Hong Kong is to ensure that limited land resources are planned as far as possible to meet the competing needs of various users; to provide sufficient land for public and private housing, commerce and industry, recreation and community uses; and to improve the quality of the living environment for the population. There are 39 planning areas in the urban areas, of which 22 are now covered by draft or approved statutory plans.
The enactment of the Town Planning (Amendment and Validation) Ordinance introduced a new field of work into the Town Planning Board. Under the ordinance, the board may provide in the notes for each plan for itself to exercise a certain discre- tion over the use of land in each type of zoning indicated. Both draft and statutory plans had to be revised to include notes outlining what variations of the basic user could be included in building projects without the board's approval, and what varia- tions the board would consider permitting on application. Each plan had to be published with the new notes under the statutory procedure. During the year, some 80 applications for permission to include users, subject to the board's discretion, were considered, A considerable amount of planning work was involved in their processing. The number of applications appeared to increase with the revival of building development.
The board also spent much time considering objections to draft statutory plans, in- cluding hearings with objectors to a number of draft Outline Zoning Plans, including those for Tsim Sha Tsui, Aberdeen and Ap Lei Chau. Some amendments were pro- posed and revised plans were published for public inspection.
The Town Planning Office of the Public Works Department provides services to the Town Planning Board and to the Land Development Policy Committee and its sub- committees. The office prepares draft plans for existing and future urban areas, and provides planning advice to other government departments and advisory bodies. It also undertakes planning feasibility studies for new development areas, examines redevelopment proposals and carries out other development control duties.
During the year, planning studies for the future use of released military land were undertaken. Planning proposals for Victoria Barracks were prepared for the considera- tion of a special committee appointed by the Governor in Council to make proposals for the future use of Victoria Barracks. Similar investigations were being carried out at RAF Kai Tak, Sham Shui Po Army Camp and other areas.
The government decided in early 1976 to proceed with a home ownership scheme to provide 30,000 flats for sale within the public housing sector. Numerous sites were investigated for this purpose. Feasibility studies and consultation work were carried out with the Housing Department and other PWD offices, and planning briefs were prepared and submitted to policy committees for approval.
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