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Planning, Land and Infrastructure
Anyone may submit views on draft statutory plans to the TPB. In 2017, the board examined 18,700 such submissions and filed 23 statutory plans to the Chief Executive in Council for approval. It also considered 68 applications for amendments to statutory plans, 1,046 for planning permission, 885 for amendments to the approved schemes and 47 to review the decisions of its Planning Committees.
Applicants aggrieved by the TPB's decisions may lodge appeals with the independent Town Planning Appeal Board. In 2017, the appeal board heard five cases, of which two were dismissed, one was allowed and two were awaiting the decision.
Hong Kong Planning Standards and Guidelines
The Hong Kong Planning Standards and Guidelines provide the criteria for determining the scale, location and site requirements of various land uses and facilities applicable to planning studies, town plans and development control. These are reviewed from time to time to take account of changes in government policies, demographic characteristics, and social and economic trends. In 2017, updates were made to the chapter on conservation regarding country parks and special areas, heritage conservation policy and animal and plant species.
Urban Renewal
Urban renewal improves living conditions in old urban areas, primarily through redevelopment and rehabilitation of buildings in need of repair. The bureau formulates policy on urban renewal and oversees the work of the statutory Urban Renewal Authority (URA).
In May, the URA began a district planning study to explore ways of enhancing the efficiency of existing land use and the redevelopment potential in Yau Ma Tei and Mong Kok, with a view to adopting feasible ideas of urban renewal in other districts.
Building Development
Private Sector
In 2017, superstructure works covering a gross floor area of 2.44 million sq m in 121 sites started. Altogether 704 such buildings, with a gross floor area of 2.38 million sq m, were completed at a cost of $89 billion, compared with 557 buildings with a gross floor area of 2.13 million sq m built at a cost of $72 billion in 2016.
Public Sector
The Architectural Services Department develops and upkeeps most government buildings and public facilities, except public housing. It takes into account the views of stakeholders in improving barrier-free, greening and landscape features at government facilities. In 2017, the department started construction of 14 projects. It completed 29 projects, including the Hong Kong Children's Hospital, schools, special schools, community green stations and open spaces.
Regional and international awards won by government projects in 2017 included those from the International Union of Architects, Architects Regional Council Asia, World Association of Chinese Architects and Chicago Athenaeum.
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