MONDAY, JUNE 22, 1981
TO BOOST LAND PRODUCTION FOR HOUSING, AND TO ENSURE THAT THE USE OF NEW SITES IS MAXIMISED, THE COMMITTEE HAS ENDORSED:
* STUDIES ON THE SCOPE FOR, AND
DESIRABILITY OF, RAISING POPULATION DENSITIES IN NEW PUBLIC RENTAL HOUSING ESTATES.
STUDIES ON THE FEASIBILITY AND
DES IRABILITY OF REZONING FOR A
HIGHER DENSITY OF DEVELOPMENT AREAS
IN NEW TOWNS CURRENTLY ZONED FOR LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT.
* TERRITORY-WIDE STUDIES TO IDENTIFY NEW
AREAS FOR LONG-TERM LARGE-SCALE DEVELOPMENT, WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF AN OVERALL DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY.
* STUDIES ON IMPROVING THE
CAPACITIES OF SITES SET ASIDE ON
A LONG TERM BASIS FOR TEMPORARY HOUSING.
TURNING TO LAND FOR INDUSTRY, THE COMMITTEE REPORTS THAT IT HAS COMPARED THE FORECAST DISTRIBUTION OF LAND PRODUCTION FOR LIGHT MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY WITH ITS OWN ASSESSMENTS OF LAND REQUIREMENTS FOR FLATTED FACTORY DEVELOPMENT IN THE METROPOLITAN AREA, THE NORTH EASTERN NEW TERRITORIES AND THE NORTH WESTERN NEW TERRITORIES. AND HAS CONCLUDED THAT THERE SHOULD BE ADEQUATE INDUSTRIAL LAND AVAILABLE UNTIL 1985/86 TO ACHIEVE A BALANCE BETWEEN REGIONAL EMPLOYMENT NEEDS AND POPULATION GROWTH. THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS A LAND SALES TARGET OF 11.8 HECTARES A YEAR OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS TO ACHIEVE SUCH A BALANCE IN EACH OF THE THREE REGIONS.
AT THE SAME TIME THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THAT, IN THE INTERESTS OF DIVERSIFICATION, A VIGOROUS LAND SALES PROGRAMME SHOULD BE PURSUED UNTIL THERE ARE CLEAR SIGNS OF PRICE STABILISATION. IT NOTES THAT IN 1980/81 INDUSTRIAL LAND SALES EXCEEDED THE TARGET BY 31 PER CENT.
THE COMMITTEE IDENTIFIES SEVERAL AREAS OF GOVERNMENT POLICY OR PROCEDURE ABOUT WHICH IT EXPRESSES CONCERN OR WHICH IT FEELS DESERVE FURTHER STUDY:
*
*
IMPROVING MANAGEMENT INFORMATION BY THE SETTING UP OF A COMPREHENSIVE, AND POSSIBLY COMPUTER ISED, LAND INVENTORY SYSTEM.
IMPROVING MANPOWER PLANNING TO ENSURE AN ADEQUATE SUPPLY OF SUITABLY QUALIFIED STAFF.
* GIVING THE PRIVATE SECTOR A BIGGER PART
IN THE PRODUCTION OF FORMED LAND THROUGH INCREASED SALES OF UNFORMED LAND.
*
KEEPING