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LAND. PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES
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THE primary objectives of the government's lands and works policies are to ensure an adequate supply of land to meet the short-term and long-term needs of 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 infrastructure and buildings.
Policy responsibility for land, public works and private development rests with two separate policy branches the Planning, Environment and Lands Branch and the Works = -Branch, each headed by a secretary. Both secretaries are members of the Land Develop- ment 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 giving broad approval to all major proposals affecting the development or planned use of land.
The Secretary for Planning, Environment and Lands (SPEL) is Chairman of the Development Progress Committee and the Port Progress Committee. These two com- mittees are responsible for monitoring the general progress of the physical develop- ment 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, policy responsibility for conservation rests with SPEL.
In addition to his policy functions, the Secretary for Planning, Environment and Lands oversees the operation of the Buildings and Lands Department, Environmental Protection Department, Planning Department and Drainage Services Department, as well as the Land Office of the Registrar General's Department and part of the work of the Territory Development Department, Civil Engineering Department, and Agriculture and Fisheries Department.
The Secretary for Works oversees and has policy responsibility for the operation and works agency activities of the Architectural Services Department, Civil Engineering Department, Drainage Services Department, Electrical and Mechanical Services Depart- ment, Highways Department, Territory Development Department and Water Supplies Department. The New Airport Projects Co-ordination Office (NAPCO) was also set up in February 1991 under the Secretary for Works and it co-ordinates the implementation of the massive projects of the Airport Core Programme (ACP).
Planning
Town planning seeks to bring about a good living and working environment for the present and future population of Hong Kong. Given limited land resources relative to