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and the community as a whole. In doing this, efforts are made to employ the most suitable modern techniques and equipment both for field survey and for reprographic processes in the Drawing Office.
3.33
The Land Branch of the Crown Lands and Survey Office is responsible for a large body of routine work concerned with land and property and its management; it gives effect to Government decisions by transferring Crown land into the hands of developers both public and private. Its forward planning is based on the potential property management commitment arising from regrant of Crown Leases, on the expected demand for and availability of new Crown land for disposal and on the need for long-term reclamation and land formation schemes, to anticipate long-term demand for Crown land for permanent development.
3.34
Within the Valuation Branch of the Crown Lands and Survey Office, up-to-date and comprehensive analysis of all available land transaction data essential to the function of the Branch and its support of the Land Branch, Town Planning Office and other Government departments is proceeding, and an intensification and extension of work in this respect will be continued. Its forward planning is based on known commitment for regrant and renewal of Crown leases and on the need to give effect to certain new forms of development policy such as urban renewal, environmental improvement and long-term highways development.
3.35 The Town Planning Office bases its work on the need to meet the demands of a population growing both in number and sophistication.
It uses data provided by the Census and Statistics Department and other Government departments and from field research to assess the forward requirements of the community and translates these requirements into the provision, on outline development and layout plans, of land for communications and for industrial, residential, commercial, community development and recreational use throughout Hong Kong.
WATER
The Need
3.36 The demand for fresh water for domestic, industrial and commercial purposes has risen from 25 million gallons per day in 1946 to 209 million gallons per day during 1974/75.
3.37 A review of the probable future increase in demand made in 1970, indicated an estimated growth rate of the order of 8% per annum during the seventies. This prediction held good until 1973/74, but in 1974/75 there was a turn-down in average daily demand. It is too early to say what this means in respect of the long-term demand trend.
3.38
Apart from the overall growth of demand, the distribution of demand varies according to the pattern of development and redevelopment. Thus a continuous review of planning proposals is necessary so that resources can be developed and the associated treatment works, pumping stations, pipelines, service reservoirs and distribution systems can be built to satisfy the demand for water.
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