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D. PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES
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A CONSULTATION document on the future development pattern of Hong Kong, outlining options for the territory's growth up to the year 2011, was published in September.
The 'Territorial Development Strategy Review Development Options' reviews the long-term land use, environmental and transport planning framework for the territory, taking into consideration Hong Kong's increasing integration with the Pearl River Delta and other parts of Southern China. The preferred development pattern will be finalised in 1994.
== The year 1993 marked the 20th anniversary of new town development in Hong Kong. To date, over 8 800 hectares of land have been formed for the new towns, where as many as 2.5 million people live. Work has begun on a ninth new town at Tung Chung on Lantau.
Torrential rain brought by Typhoon Dot in September and Typhoon Ira in November caused serious flooding in parts of the territory, particularly in the northern New Territories.
Illegal land use, including the haphazard conversion of farmland into storage and dumping sites, has aggravated the flooding problem.
The government announced in October the setting up of a task force to clean up the New Territories over the next decade. It will take tougher enforcement action against unauthorised land use and undertake major improvement works.
The government, which has drawn up a comprehensive programme to reduce flood risks, is also looking at how to improve flood forecasting and warning capabilities.
The Organisational Framework
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, private development and the implementation of the public works programme rests with the Planning, Environment and Lands Branch, and the Works Branch, each headed by a policy secretary. 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 giving broad approval to all major proposals affecting the development or planned use of land.