LAND, PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES
The Secretary for Planning, Environment and Lands is chairman of the Development Progress Committee and the Port Progress Committee. These two committees are 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, and has policy responsibility for conservation.
In addition to his policy functions, the Secretary for Planning, Environment and Lands oversees the operation of the Buildings Department, Drainage Services Department, Environmental Protection Department, Lands Department and Planning Department, as well as the Land Registry, which is operated on a trading fund basis. He also oversees part of the work of the Agriculture and Fisheries Department, Civil Engineering Department, Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, Marine Department and Territory Development Department.
The Secretary for Works oversees, and has policy responsibility for, the operation and works agency activities of the Architectural Services Department, Civil Engineering Depart- ment, Drainage Services Department, Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, Highways Department, Territory Development Department and Water Supplies Depart- ment. The New Airport Projects Co-ordination Office (NAPCO) was set up in February 1991 under the Secretary for Works to co-ordinate the implementation of the Airport Core Programme (ACP).
Planning
Given the limited land resources in Hong Kong, it is a great challenge to plan for the competing demands of housing, commerce, industry, transportation and the utilities, as well as for recreation, education, medical and health care, and other community facilities.
Town planning is carried out by the Planning Department under policy directives from the Planning, Environment and Lands Branch. The department comprises two functional units: the Territorial and Sub-Regional Planning Branch and the District Planning Branch.
During the year, the department was involved with the drafting of a White Bill for the new Planning Ordinance; updating and reviewing the Territorial Development Strategy, the Northwest and Southwest New Territories Sub-Regional Development Strategies and the Hong Kong Planning Standards and Guidelines; and follow-up work on the Port and Airport Development Strategy, the Metroplan Selected Strategy, and the Rural Planning and Improvement Strategy.
It was also engaged in forward planning and development control for the districts, including co-ordination of various urban renewal efforts; and in undertaking enforcement action against unauthorised developments in designated rural areas.
Review of Town Planning Ordinance
The Town Planning Ordinance was first enacted in 1939. In 1987, the Executive Council ordered that an overall review of the ordinance should be undertaken, with a view to introducing new legislation to replace the existing one, to provide the necessary degree of guidance and control for planning and development to meet Hong Kong's changing circumstances.
Public consultation on the comprehensive review of the Town Planning Ordinance was carried out in 1992. As part of the comprehensive review, a special committee was set up to
201