LAND, PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES
demanding a reinstatement of the land. It is an offence in law if the requirements of the notices are not complied with.
Most of the unauthorised developments detected in 1996 were related to site formation; earth-filling; the open storage of vehicles, containers, trailer/tractors and construction materials; and vehicle repair workshops. These caused the serving of 1061 enforcement notices for 200 cases, and 87 reinstatement notices for 13 cases. Positive attempts were made to reinstate those sites which had caused adverse environmental hazards or flooding hazards. In the Ping Che and Ta Kwu Ling area, the illegally filled rivers were reinstated successfully.
Prosecutions were conducted in respect of 48 cases, and 87 defendants in 47 cases were convicted. As a result of increasing the maximum fine for unauthorised development offences under the Town Planning Ordinance with effect from June 1995, the average fine which had been imposed on the convicted defendants was about $40,512, with a range of $5,000 to $217,500.
Special teams have also been set up to work in collaboration with the Task Force (Black Spots), Lands Department on the common objective of cleaning up the environmental black spots in rural New Territories. The special teams are to expedite enforcement and prosecution actions against unauthorised developments in the Pat Heung Pilot Action Area and the North District East Action Area.
Urban Renewal
To create a better urban environment through comprehensive redevelopment, urban renewal frameworks have been prepared for various urban districts in the old urban
areas.
The Land Development Corporation (LDC) was established in 1988 to undertake, encourage, promote and facilitate urban renewal. Since its inception, 10 urban renewal projects have been completed and 16 projects are under way.
During the year, the G in C approved two more LDC development scheme plans for comprehensive redevelopment in the older parts of Yau Ma Tei and Wan Chai. Six approved scheme plans are in different stages of implementation by the LDC in Hong Kong and Kowloon. Office and/or residential buildings, community facilities and public open spaces will be provided within these schemes. The LDC has also undertaken some smaller commercial and residential redevelopment projects to enhance the environmental conditions in the old urban areas. The Hong Kong Housing Society (HKHS) has also contributed to the urban renewal process by undertaking urban improvement schemes in the older areas.
set up
In June, after considering the public views on the consultation document on Urban Renewal, the G in C approved a package of immediate and long term measures to address urban renewal problems. Subsequently, a dedicated urban renewal team was in September 1996 to formulate strategies and to monitor the implementation of the proposed measures. Immediate measures include the initiatives to grant sites. (at reduced premium) to the HKHS which will act as the rehousing agent for the LDC, to test the linked-site approach by carrying out a pilot project, to extend the priority period in allocating public housing for the households affected by the LDC's redevelopment. Longer-term proposals include further study on the setting up of a statutory Urban Renewal Authority, the introduction of measures to encourage
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