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Land, Public Works and Utilities
THE primary objectives of the government's lands and works policies are to ensure an adequate supply of land to meet the needs of both the public and private sectors, to optimise the use of land within the framework of land use zoning and development plans, and to ensure co-ordinated physical development in infrastructure and buildings.
To provide a better response to district requirements, and to balance the workload and rationalise the functions and responsibilities of the departments concerned, a major reorganisation of the Lands and Works Group of Departments was carried out during the year.
The main features of the reorganisation were:
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The amalgamation of the Buildings Ordinance Office of the Building Development Department with the Lands Department to become the new Buildings and Lands Department. Matters relating to land and building development are now placed under one single department.
- The transformation of the Architectural Office of the Building Development Depart- ment into an independent Architectural Services Department to cope with the increasing demand for architectural services.
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The amalgamation of the Urban Area Development Organisation of the Lands and Works Branch of the Government Secretariat with the New Territories Development Department to form a new Territory Development Department. This permits a more effective control of the Public Works Programme and district planning throughout the territory as well as more efficient deployment of staff resources.
The transformation of the Highways Office of the Engineering Development Depart- ment into an independent Highways Department which is responsible to the Secretary for Transport for the implementation of transport policy and the highways develop- ment programme. For works policy, construction standards, contract procedures and Public Works Programme co-ordination, the Highways Department is responsible to the Secretary for Lands and Works.
The restructuring of the Engineering Development Department to form a new Civil Engineering Services Department with responsibilities for civil engineering works, geotechnical control and railway development.
The overall policy responsibility for land, public works and private development continues to rest with the Secretary for Lands and Works, who heads a branch which also monitors the performance of the five reorganised departments mentioned above, the Water Supplies Department and the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department. The Secretary for Lands and Works is the Chairman of the Town Planning Board and also of the Development Progress Committee, which is responsible, among other things,