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HOUSING AND LAND
The Hong Kong Outline Plan, which provides the framework for all district plan- ning, was under active revision. The plan lays down general planning concepts and policies for future population distribution and land development. It also defines planning standards and locational factors for the provision of community facilities. Draft chapters of the plan were submitted to the Hong Kong Outline Plan Steering Group and to the Land Development Policy Committee for approval. Land use, floor area and building condition surveys were conducted to update the data bank of plan- ning information, and to provide background information for the preparation and revision of draft statutory plans and departmental plans. Background studies for six planning areas, and land use and building condition surveys for 38 planning units were completed.
Many departmental outline development and layout plans for new development areas were prepared and existing plans revised to take account of recent changes in planning policies, planning standards, population forecast, extension of the mass transit railway and other factors. These plans are prepared within the framework of statutory plans and the Hong Kong Outline Plan, and are normally drawn to larger scales and show more detailed planning proposals.
New Towns
The year saw Hong Kong's new town programme move into a new phase that has three different aspects. The first aspect is growth rate. Expressed either in expenditure or in terms of physical construction, figures achieved in 1977 are roughly double those of 1976, and represent a stage in growth where the yearly maximums expected in 1979 and for several years thereafter will be three times the 1977 figures. Growth in population is expected to follow a similar pattern, but two years later.
The second aspect is that of increasing ultimate size. In response to the growing need for public housing, studies continued throughout 1977 to determine the possi- bility of extending the development areas to accommodate larger populations. The studies are taking place wherever the physical constraints of the land appear to provide viable opportunities, such as in Sha Tin, Tuen Mun, Tai Po and Fanling.
The third aspect is that of increasing concern for the environment, both within the new urban areas and in the impact of urbanisation on the countryside and on com- munities. Studies in the development of the urban landscape and landscape impact have been commissioned and completed in Sha Tin, and are under way in Tuen Mun. In the new towns and market towns, the aim of development remains the establish- ment of balanced communities living in a civilised environment in both private and public housing, with adequate local employment and community facilities.
In Tsuen Wan New Town, to the west of Kowloon, the ultimate planned popula- tion remains at about 900,000 people, compared with 550,000 at the end of 1977. The hinterland of the new town development area allows no scope for extension. The major areas for future development that remain are Tsing Yi Island and the northern area of Tsuen Wan. In the Lai Yiu and Cho Yiu (Phase I) Estates in Kwai Chung and the Cheung Ching (Phase IA) Estate on Tsing Yi Island, where the total ultimate population will be 40,000, the population at the end of 1977 was about 31,000. Major private residential development for 4,000 people at Chai Wan Kok was substantially completed. A redevelopment programme for the old, highly-congested Tai Wo Hau