LAND, PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES
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for considering and approving detailed planning briefs and layouts for development areas in accordance with planning standards laid down by the Land Development Policy Committee.
The Land Development Policy Committee, chaired by the Chief Secretary, is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the physical development of the territory and for approving, in principle, all major proposals affecting the development or planned use of land. The Land and Building Advisory Committee, with the chairman and eight members drawn from the private sector, advises the government on a wide range of issues, including the adequacy of land development programme and of the policies and procedures relating to land, buildings and the construction industry.
The Sino-British Land Commission met regularly in 1986 to discuss issues arising from the implementation of the agreement on land leases set out in Annex III to the Sino-British Joint Declaration on the future of Hong Kong. Important issues considered included updating the average cost of land production and drawing up and monitoring the land disposal programme.
Land grants and leases are now made in accordance with the terms set out in the Joint Declaration. The total amount of new land to be granted is limited to 50 hectares a year (excluding land to be granted to the Hong Kong Housing Authority for public rental housing), although the Land Commission may increase this limit. Premium income obtained from land transactions is, after reduction of the average cost of land production, shared equally between the Hong Kong Government and the future Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government.
In 1986-7 funds for public works amounted to $5,425 million - about 14 per cent of the government's total expenditure for 1986–7. The largest portion, $2,814 million, was for the development of new towns. Some $453 million was earmarked for expenditure on civil engineering projects, $724 million on highways projects, $515 million on water works, and $918 million on buildings. In addition, $1,200 million was provided for the acquisition of leased land for the projects involved.
With regard to strategic planning in a broad territorial context, further follow-up work on the initial results of the 1984 Territorial Development Strategy studies continued in 1986. This included planning and engineering feasibility studies of the 'common com- ponent' potential development areas around Victoria Harbour and updating the long-term urban growth strategy of Hong Kong. The Port Development Strategy Study was also completed during the year. The findings and recommendations of the above studies are being applied in the detailed feasibility studies of various harbour reclamations with a view to drawing up an outline programme for implementing the necessary works.
Land Administration
The Lands Administration Office of the Buildings and Lands Department co-ordinates all aspects of land administration throughout the territory. In addition to its headquarters, the department has 12 district lands offices; two on Hong Kong Island, two in Kowloon and eight in the New Territories. District lands officers are responsible for most aspects of land administration and land disposal, while the headquarters formulate territory-wide policy and give guidance on more complex matters.
Land Supply
All land in Hong Kong is held by the government, which sells or grants leasehold interests. In the early days, leases were for terms of 75, 99 or 999 years, subsequently standardised in