Hung Hom Districts were prepared for the Town Planning Board and exhibited to the public. The layout of Kun Tong New Town was printed and put on sale. In addition to the plans mentioned above an index of all plans prepared by the Planning section was for the first time circulated to all Government Departments and Public Utility Companies.

137. A general review of the land requirements of industry was made and a memorandum prepared and, while this resulted in some clarification, the position still remains fluid as there has been a steady trend in redevelopment for housing on land previously used for industry and allied purposes due to the considerably greater price obtainable for land for housing. Where there is no lease condition restricting the user to industry Government has not intervened to stop this trend even where it is contrary to general planning proposals but where a restriction to industry exists in a lease it has not been the practice to allow any modification. The search for land for industry and housing has speeded up the investigation of sites for new towns and during the year preliminary consideration was given to 5 possible new town sites.

138. The implementation of the Kun Tong New Industrial Town Scheme commenced during the year and brought with it the need to extend planning activity in that area, since it was decided that the formation of sites for housing should also be carried out by Government. Plans for one of the Housing Zones and for a Commercial Centre were therefore prepared during the year.

139. Initial planning for development of Chai Wan ultimately to house 80,000 people together with some industry was completed during the year so that engineering works could commence.

Cross Harbour Communications.

140. The study of cross harbour communications was carried a stage further during the year by the publication of a report on the proposed Cross Harbour Tunnel Scheme. The Planning section was closely connected with the preparation of the report and the preliminary examination of two alternative proposals for bridging the harbour. The Working Party advised that a tunnel or bridge would be unlikely to pay for itself in the

25

Share This Page