development will have been completed in 1965 and 1966. Moreover, the approximate 20% annual increase during the last 2 years in the number of Landlord and Tenant Exclusion Orders obtained, necessary to release rent controlled premises for redevelopment, is a further indication of continued high interest in building.
Hotels
3.05. With the steady flow of tourists, many hotels have been in the course of construction and from records of formal occupation permits issued this year, an estimated total of 2,949 new hotel rooms (including suites) became available compared with only 180 rooms last year.
3.06. In addition to this enormous flood of hotel accommodation, 2 hotels in Kowloon are in progress of being extended to provide an additional 395 rooms and construction of at least one more hotel in Kowloon and one in the New Territories is expected to commence shortly, thereby providing a further 145 units of accommodation.
3.07. However there was a noticeable drop in new hotel proposals during the year.
Legislation
3.08. Those parts of amendments to the Planning Regulations, which deal with improved lighting to kitchens and open space requirements became effective in July and resulted in a very substantial influx of new proposals during the preceding month. However, with few exceptions, this bulge of submissions was processed within 8 weeks, and delay in approval of plans and in the many other activities of the office were kept to a minimum.
3.09. A new amendment to the Buildings Ordinance requiring certification of plans by the Director of Fire Services in respect of fire service installations, was passed in January and became effective the following month.
Dangerous Buildings
3.10. 145 Closure Orders (compared with 42 last year) were obtained for buildings which had become dangerous through fire, dilapidation, or other causes, and 328 notices (compared with 215 last year) were issued to repair premises in a dangerous condition.
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