submission for approval in principle whilst the remainder are under active consideration by the Branch and other various Government departments.
12.56 With the assistance of the Town Planning Office, work was also in hand on the preparation of sketch plans for proposed industrial estates at Tai Po and Yuen Long.
12.57 Consideration of development applications from both the public and private sectors continued. During the year a total of 47 cases were processed through the Branch.
STAFF, TRAINING AND WELFARE
Staff
12.58 The total approved establishment of the Department is 72 posts, two of which are supernumerary. All posts were filled. Additional staff were loaned from the Highways Office and the Town Planning Office to help operate the Tsuen Wan New Town Development Office and for attachment to the New Territories Development Branch specifically to carry out preliminary work in connection with the proposed industrial estates at Tai Po and Yuen Long.
12.59 The Tsuen Wan and Tuen Mun New Towns Development Offices moved from Murray Building, Hong Kong to their leased accommodation in Tsuen Wan in April 1974.
12.60 The construction of the Sha Tin Government Offices at Tung Lo Wan Hill, Sha Tin was completed in mid-September and occupation by the Sha Tin New Town Development Office and the New Territories Development Branch commenced at the end of that month.
Training
12.61 Two Principal Government Engineers visited new towns developments and engineering consultants in the United Kingdom whilst on leave. One of them also attended the Public Works Congress and Exhibition at Olympia, London in November 1974 to assess the value of the exhibition with a view to future attendance by officers to the Public Works Department and the Urban Services Department.
12.62 A Chief Engineer attended a 3-week Administrative Development Course run by the Government Training Division.
12.63 interest.
Welfare
12.64 Regular staff seminars were held to discuss matters of common interest.
The Department held its Christmas party in the Sha Tin Government Offices and as in the last year it was well attended by members of the staff and was very successful.
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