LAND, PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES
Environmental Policy
The department, through its quality management system, is committed to improving the environment in all aspects of work. Environmental impact assessments are carried out for all Arch SD projects that require them. The department aims to obtain ISO 14001 Environmental Management System certification in early 1998.
Energy Efficiency and Conservation for Building Design
Energy efficiency and conservation awareness form a continuous issue which is closely attended to by the department in the design of all projects. Overall Thermal Transfer Value (OTTV) calculations are carried out to limit the building solar heat gain and comply with the Building (Energy Efficiency) Regulation. Energy-efficient technologies and design techniques are adopted in the building services installation design. Examples of recent particular projects include the Hospital Authority Building, Castle Peak Hospital, Public Records Office Building in Kwun Tong, Cheung Sha Wan Government Office Building, New Naval Base, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Operating Theatre Block, and Central Kowloon Rehabilitation Centre. Clean energy is adopted such as photovoltaic electricity supply in Kowloon Walled City Garden and Tai Mo Shan Radar Station, and solar heating in Tsuen Wan Area 7 Swimming Pool and Sheung Shui Slaughterhouse. Adequate monitoring and measuring equipment is provided to monitor and audit building energy consumption.
Green Management and Good Housekeeping
The department's Green Manager conducts regular meetings to review and implement a programme of green housekeeping, introduce measures to increase staff consciousness and involvement in relation to environmental issues, publicise the commitment to protect the environment, record and formulate action plans. As a result, the paper consumption for photocopying, offsetting and A4 single-line printing has been reduced by 14 per cent and the electricity consumption has been reduced by 2 per cent in 1996. From mid-1996 to mid-1997, 60 professional and management staff received training on Environmental Management System ISO 14 000.
Land Administration
The main functions of the Lands Administration Office of the Lands Department, which consists of a headquarters and 14 District Lands Offices, are land acquisition, land disposal, management of unallocated government land, and lease enforcement. Land use statistics are at Appendix 41.
Land Acquisition
When private property is needed in the public interest, mostly for the implementation of public works projects, and cannot be acquired by negotiation, it may be acquired under ordinances which provide for payment of compensation, based on the value of the property, and for business loss, where appropriate, at the date of acquisition. If agreement cannot be reached on the amount payable, either party can refer the claim to the Lands Tribunal for adjudication. Apart from statutory compensation, there is a system of ex-gratia payments.
During 1997, about 359 000 square metres of private land in the New Territories were acquired at a cost of $1.52 billion for public works projects, such as the Phase II
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