LAND, PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES

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welfare agencies. An advisory and liaison role is also provided to the government for joint venture developments with the private sector.

The department also gives advice on facilities to be provided to the government by private developers as a condition for land grants. These include office accommodation, transport interchanges and neighbourhood social welfare facilities.

Maintenance and minor alteration works are provided to approximately 7 000 buildings and facilities used by the government, Urban and Regional Councils, Hospital Authority, British Forces and voluntary agencies. Major refurbishment and fitting-out works continue, together with further phases of noise abatement measures at government and subvented schools. The Antiquities Group, which is responsible for the restoration and conservation of listed buildings, completed several projects, including the Yi Tai Study Hall (at Kam Tin), Tin Hau Temple (Chek Lap Kok) and Ping Shan Heritage Trail (Yuen Long). The Kun Ting Study Hall restoration work by the group won the ARCASIA award for architecture in 1994.

Committed to environmental friendliness, the department has been focusing on improving indoor air quality (IAQ) and energy conservation. A working group has worked out internal guidelines for achieving better IAQ. Recommendations include the proper selection of construction and furnishing materials, control of contaminant sources, sufficient fresh air make-up, better air filtration of air particulate and volatile compounds, better air distribution and improved maintenance. In addition, mathematical models have been introduced to project engineers to select filters and to quantify the intangible assessment of IAQ during the design stage of projects. The department is also playing an active role in improving IAQ in premises it manages. The installation of ozone generators in the Legislative Council building brought satisfactory results in the control of indoor bacteria and mould.

On the energy conservation front, the department has enhanced its activities in the promulgation of energy-efficient design and operation of government buildings. Overall Thermal Transfer Value (OTTV) requirements have been set up for buildings designed by the department in accordance with Building Ordinance requirements. Energy management opportunity studies have been carried out at Wanchai Tower, Immigration Tower and Revenue Tower. As a result, energy-saving measures implemented at Wanchai Tower achieved savings of $500,000 in 1993. Energy-saving opportunities identified for Immigra- tion Tower and Revenue Tower are being examined, with a view to implementation.

In the 1994 Energy Efficient Building Award competition, organised by the Energy Efficiency Advisory Committee, the government-managed Murray Building was awarded a certificate of merit in recognition of its energy-efficient design and operation features.

Land Administration

The Lands Administration Office of the Lands Department, which consists of a headquarters and 14 District Lands Offices, is responsible for all aspects of land administration. The office's main functions are to acquire land and make land available for the government's development programme; to dispose of land in accordance with a programme approved by the Sino-British Land Commission; to manage all unallocated government land; and to ensure the use of private land complies with its lease conditions.

Land usage statistics are at Appendix 39.

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