and considered by the Land Development Planning Committee. All the Working Committee reports have been completed but the Geography report and the Population and Housing report have not yet been considered by the Land Development Planning Committee.
Town Planning Board
6.37. The Town Planning Board met on 11 occasions and considered draft outline zoning plans for ten planning areas in the urban areas and two planning areas in the New Territories.
Land Development Planning Committee
6.38. The Branch presented 40 papers to the Land Development Planning Committee—the Committee responsible for advising Government on development proposals. Items considered included outline zoning and layout plans, provision of open spaces, density zoning control and Colony Outline Plan Working Committee Reports.
Advice on Development Schemes
6.39. Planning advice was given on 106 development projects of which 42 were in the New Territories. These figures compare with 132 and 42 respectively last year and 180 and 84 in 1966-67.
Liaison
6.40. The Branch was represented on numerous sub-committees in connection with the work of the Housing Board, the Provisional Council for the Conservation of the Countryside and the Census and Statistics Department. A circular listing all planning schemes, most of which can be purchased on application to the Cartographer, was issued quarterly to departments, public utilities companies and certain non-Government organizations.
Staff
STAFF, TRAINING AND WELFARE
6.41. The total authorized establishment amounted to 842, an increase of 13 over the previous year. The office continued to recruit professional Surveys staff for the New Territories Administration and the Civil Engineering Office.
6.42. Five Assistant Planning Officers were recruited and two resigned during the year. One Land Surveyor and five Estate Surveyors were recruited on contract. An officer who qualified professionally in
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