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LAND, PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES
studies on some of these areas which will provide about 630 hectares of land for development and housing for up to 480 000 people.
The reclamation of 36 hectares of land at Hung Hom Bay to cater for expansion of the Kowloon-Canton Railway freight yard and for residential and other uses commenced in mid-1986 and is scheduled for completion in 1992–3. About five hectares of land have been reclaimed with material from public dumping and site formation works. A report on the freight yard expansion and associated developments was submitted by the Kowloon- Canton Railway Corporation to the government for consideration.
The study on Aldrich Bay Reclamation, which will produce about 17 hectares of land, was completed and as a first phase, work on reprovisioning the typhoon shelter is scheduled to start in early 1988.
In-house planning and civil engineering studies for the west Kowloon Reclamation con- tinued. Consultants have been commissioned to undertake the Central and Wan Chai Recla- mation study, which will be followed by the Green Island Reclamation study in early 1988. The effects of these proposed reclamations on the hydraulics and water quality in the harbour will be assessed by model studies.
Urban Renewal
The Land Development Corporation is to be set up in early 1988 to facilitate the process of urban renewal in areas where satisfactory development is inhibited by factors such as multiple ownership of properties, small size of the site or obsolescent layout. Its main task will be to negotiate the surrender of existing properties and to oversee comprehensive redevelopment of the area.
During the year, the Town Planning Office carried out a number of preliminary development studies for some of the identified Possible Special Development Areas (PSDA) in Mong Kok, Central, Kowloon City and Tai Kok Tsui. The redevelopment potential of these PSDAs was evaluated in terms of their rehousing commitment, ease of implementa- tion, constraints and demographic characteristics. These studies provide information for the Land Development Corporation in determining initial development priorities.
Urban environmental improvement schemes particularly with regard to the provision of open space, continued to be given impetus in 1987. About $36 million was spent to acquire private properties within those sites earmarked for open space and government, institu- tional and community uses in the town plans for the urban areas. Considerable efforts were also made towards assembling project sites that had been partially acquired in the urban improvement districts of Western, Wan Chai and Yau Ma Tei.
Resumption of private streets for subsequent government control to improve the local environmental conditions is supported by district boards and the public. There are about 300 private streets in the territory with various problems. It is therefore important to draw up a set of selection criteria for the purpose of determining priority. Having considered the factors of safety risks, traffic considerations and environmental nuisances, a total of 11 streets were selected for resumption this year.
Urban renewal schemes implemented by the Hong Kong Housing Society continue to be accorded special attention. To assist the Housing Society in processing its schemes, 86 properties at Sheung Wan and Yau Ma Tei were planned to be resumed and cleared by the end of the year.
Public Building
The Architectural Services Department undertakes building projects under the Public Works Programme and the building programmes of the Regional and Urban Councils and