7.15
In recent years, a number of firms of Chartered Surveyors have opened offices in Hong Kong and the increasing use of professionally qualified estate developers and valuers by the private sector has introduced a greater degree of expertise into Land negotiations and appeals and has tended to make the work of the Valuation Branch more complex.
7.16
A short summary of the work carried out within the two Divisions is given below.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT DIVISION
Urban Renewal Section
7.17
The Urban Renewal Section is responsible for the implementation of the Urban Renewal Pilot Scheme, which involves the acquisition and clearance of decayed and obsolete properties within an area of about 4.86 hectares in the older part of Western District, Hong Kong. During the year some 27 properties were acquired by negotiation at an aggregate cost of about $6.8 million, including tenants' compensation. Resumption notices had been gazetted in respect of all the remaining properties required for the implementation of the Scheme, and the last batch of properties reverted to the Crown in October 1976. Evidence was given by expert witnesses before two Lands Tribunal sittings and compensation awards were made in respect of eight properties. Negotiations are still being pursued with the former owners of reverted properties, failing which reference to the Lands Tribunal for the determination of compensation will be made. Construction of the new road linking Hollywood Road and Queen's Road Central is in hand and it is expected to be completed by the second quarter of the next financial year. An undertaking under the Streets (Alteration) Ordinance has been authorised by the Governor, involving the alteration, closure, and construction of streets within the area bounded by Hollywood Road, Sai Street, Queen's Road West, and Queen's Road Central. Clearance action has been accelerated to complete the rehousing of occupants and the demolition and clearance of buildings to enable further public works and land sales to proceed at the earliest possible date. Two sites in the Pilot Scheme Area were sold during the year, realising a total sum of $11.05 million.
Environmental Improvement Section
7.18
This section is responsible for the acquisition of land required for Environmental Improvements as proposed on draft and statutory town plans primarily within the Urban Renewal District (Western District), Wan Chai, and Yau Ma Tei. Thirty-two properties were acquired by agreement at a total cost of approximately $14.7 million. Tenants' compensation at $2.53 million was also paid in respect of these properties upon clearance. Under the Crown Lands Resumption Ordinance, three batches of properties were gazetted for resumption with an estimated compensation cost of about $20.7 million. Two of the three batches of properties are required for the Hong Kong Housing Society's Urban Improvement Scheme at First Street and Second Street. The remaining batch of properties has been resumed in connection with the Canal Road Market reprovisioning project.
Regrant/C.T.I./Lease Renewal Section
7.19
This Section is responsible for the regrant of 75-year non-renewable...
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