LAND, PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES
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the density of different types of residential developments and environmental, locational and site requirements, all of which need to be considered in the preparation of town plans and planning briefs. The document is constantly under review to take account of changes in government policies, demographic characteristics and social and economic trends. Changes to the standards and guidelines are approved by the Land Development Policy Com- mittee. Major revisions during the year include chapters on transport facilities and the environment.
Surveys on land and floor uses covering the whole territory are carried out or updated to provide input for the preparation of town plans and planning studies. During the year land use surveys were completed for Tsim Sha Tsui, Yau Ma Tei, Sha Tin Town Centre and Tong Yan San Tsuen in Yuen Long. Special studies were conducted on banks in industrial areas, underground development guidelines and the revision of the Tertiary Planning Unit/Street Block system. The forecast of future land supply and land requirements and the office and industrial building records were also updated.
Land Administration and Supply
The Lands Administration Office of the Buildings and Lands Department co-ordinates all aspects of land administration throughout the territory.
The first priority in land supply is to make sufficient land available for the government's development programmes, including the public housing programme. Land for the Hong "Kong Housing Authority's public rental estates is provided free by the government. Land for the Home Ownership Scheme is granted at normal premium. Land for the rental estates constructed by the Hong Kong Housing Society, a non-profit-making body with aims similar to those of the Housing Authority, is provided on concessionary terms. Land is also granted by private treaty, at nominal premium, to non-profit-making charitable in- stitutions which operate schools, hospitals, social welfare and other community services in accordance with the government's policy objectives.
Most government land available for private sector commercial, industrial or residential development is sold by public auction or tender. Regular auctions are held and a pro- visional land sales forecast is published at regular intervals. In the New Territories, however, where much of the land required for development has to be acquired by the government, a high proportion is disposed of by tenders restricted to holders of Land Exchange Entitlements (Letters A/B). Since 1983, when Letters A/B were last issued, the amount of entitlements outstanding has decreased from 3.43 million square metres to 0.74 million square metres.
Leases for certain special purposes, which are unsuitable for disposal by public auction. because of particular site requirements or other factors, are also offered for sale by public tender. Special purposes include capital-intensive industries which introduce new technol- ogy and cannot be adequately accommodated in conventional multi-storey flatted factory buildings. These sales are initiated only in response to formal applications and, in certain circumstances, may be concluded by direct private treaty.
Land usage statistics are at Appendix 35.
Land Acquisition
When private property needed for the implementation of public works projects cannot be acquired by negotiation, the use of compulsory powers becomes necessary. Property