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LAND, PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES
THE primary objectives of the Hong Kong Government's lands and works policies are to ensure an adequate supply of land to meet the short-term and long-term needs of both the public and private sectors, to optimise the use of land within the framework of land use zoning and development strategies and to ensure co-ordinated development in infra- structure and buildings.
On September 1, 1989, the Lands and Works Branch was re-organised into two separate policy branches - the Planning, Environment and Lands Branch and the Works Branch – each headed by a Secretary. The aim was to improve the institutional framework to ensure the integration of the planning and environmental functions as well as to devote greater attention to the formulation of works policies and the implementation of the public works programme.
Both Secretaries are members of the Land Development Policy Committee, which is chaired by the Chief Secretary, and 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 Secretary for Planning, Environment and Lands is the Chairman of the Development Progress Committee, which is responsible for monitoring the general progress of the physical development of the territory as well as considering and approving detailed planning briefs, layouts and development plans. He is also Chairman of the Town Planning Board.
In addition to his policy functions, the Secretary for Planning, Environment and Lands oversees the operation of the Environmental Protection Department and the Buildings and Lands Department. He also oversees the new Planning Department, created in January 1990. The Planning Department is organised into two main streams dealing respectively with territorial and district planning matters.
The Secretary for Works oversees the operation of the seven works departments, namely Architectural Services, Civil Engineering Services, Drainage Services, Electrical and Mechanical Services, Highways, Territory Development and Water Supplies Departments. The Drainage Services Department, being established in stages since July 1989, is responsible for the planning, construction, operation and maintenance of all drainage infrastructure in the territory.
Land Disposal
All land in Hong Kong is held by the government which sells or grants leasehold interests. Such grants and leases are now made in accordance with the terms set out in Annex III to the Sino-British Joint Declaration. The total amount of new land to be granted is limited to
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