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Private Treaty Grants
4.09. 165 lots or extensions to lots were granted by private treaty, 40 being by exchange and 26 being free grants for non-profits making schools, clinics and welfare centres, etc. 35 lots were granted for Government officers housing schemes.
Land for Government and Government-sponsored projects
4.10. Government continued to be the biggest single developer of land. After engineering works, the Resettlement Department and the Housing Authority were the biggest land users.
Clearances and Resettlement
4.11. The Crown Lands Division continued to be responsible for co-ordinating all clearances required by the Public Works Department and for subsequent liaison with the Resettlement Department. Where these involved large industrial establishments or other users which could not be resettled in domestic or flatted factory resettlement blocks, this Division undertook responsibility for clearance. For the first time however it was decided not to proceed under the Summary Offences Ordinance, but to refer cases to Crown Counsel for the necessary legal process. During this period action was taken in respect of 5 large factories and in all cases the defendants demolished and cleared the sites.
Naval Dockyard and War Department Properties
4.12. The former Kowloon Naval yard apart from those portions occupied by Government departments, continued to be fully let on monthly tenancies and produced $1,107,610 in rentals during the year. This represented a reasonable return on the capital expended on acquiring the yard.
4.13. The boundary wall of the portion of the Hong Kong Naval yard between Harcourt Road and Queen's Road was completed, leaving the Admiralty in possession of only Wellington Barracks. Government departments requiring temporary accommodation, whilst awaiting construction of their new buildings, occupied some blocks, but the remainder were demolished and the sites used for temporary car parks.
4.14. Murray Barracks and the Detention Barracks were handed over by the War Department in November. Demolition of several of the buildings was started to provide space for a temporary car park and allow road improvements.
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