XN000022-1988-12-29 — Page 2

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1988

EVENTFUL YEAR AHEAD FOR LANDS AND WORKS BRANCH

THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A DRAINAGE SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO OVERLOOK A SEWER CONSTRUCTION PROGRAMME AND FLOOD PROTECTION WORKS WILL BE ONE OF THE PRIORITIES OF THE LANDS AND WORKS BRANCH IN 1989.

THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS, MR GRAHAM BARNES, SAID THIS TODAY (THURSDAY) IN A YEAR-END MEET-THE-MEDIA SESSION DURING WHICH HE LISTED THE MAJOR GOALS HE HAD SET FOR THE BRANCH NEXT YEAR.

AMONG OTHER THINGS, MR BARNES SAID THE BRANCH WILL TRY TO REACH AGREEMENT WITH THE GUANGDONG WATER AUTHORITY ON THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE LONG-TERM SUPPLY OF WATER BEYOND 1994 WHEN THE CURRENT WATER AGREEMENT RUNS OUT.

INDUSTRIAL COMMERCIAL

THE BRANCH WILL AIM TO OBTAIN OPTIMAL PROVISION OF LAND AND TO SET UP A PROGRAMME FOR RELEASING MORE LAND FOR AND OFFICE DEVELOPMENTS TO MEET ANTICIPATED SHORTFALL IN THE NEXT DECADE.

AND

IT WILL BE INVOLVED IN PROCESSING

VETTING SOME FOUR OR FIVE MAJOR URBAN REDEVELOPMENT SCHEMES TO BE DONE BY THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

THE BRANCH'S LANDS DIVISION WILL SEKK TO OBTAIN THE SINO-BRITISH LAND COMMISSION'S AGREEMENT ON THE 1989/90 LAND DISPOSAL PROGRAMME BEFORE THE START OF THE FINANCIAL YEAR, MR BARNES SAID.

"ON THE BUILDINGS POLICY AND LEGISLATION SIDE, THE DIVISION'S OBJECTIVES FOR 1989 WILL BE TO BETTER CONTROL UNAUTHORISED BUILDING WORKS THROUGH THE ADOPTION OF NEW ENFORCEMENT MEASURES, INCLUDING IMMEDIATE DEMOLITION AND STEPPING UP PROSECUTION.

"DURING THE YEAR, SURVEYS OF PRE-WAR AND EARLY POST-WAR PRIVATE BUILDINGS TO CHECK ON STRUCTURAL SAFETY WILL BE STARTED, MR BARNES ADDED.

MR BARNES ALSO SAID THE REASSESSMENT OF POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS INSTALLATIONS ON TSING YI WILL BE COMPLETED IN MARCH. THE REPORT, WHICH WILL BE PUBLISHED, MAY ENTAIL REPLANNING ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE ISLAND.

THE YEAR WILL ALSO SEE THE FINALISATION OF THE RURAL PLANNING AND IMPROVEMENT STRATEGY, WHICH PROVIDES AN ORGANISATIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR THE IMPROVEMENT IN THE NT RURAL AREAS, AND A REVIEW OF LAND REQUIREMENT FOR CONTAINER TERMINALS AND RELATED BACKUP FACILITIES.

USE

IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE WHITE PAPER ON POLLUTION, THE BRANCH'S ENVIRONMENT DIVISION PLANS TO ESTABLISH A TERRITORY-WIDE

AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT PLAN TO FIGHT AIR POLLUTION, AND A WASTE DISPOSAL PLAN, WHICH WILL RESULT IN THE STAGED CLOSURE OF THE EXISTING INCINERATORS.

THE DIVISION