XN000022-1989-02-23 — Page 2

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1989

CHANGES TO LANDS AND WORKS BRANCH ANNOUNCED

TWO POLICY BRANCHES AND TWO DEPARTMENTS WILL BE CREATED AS A RESULT OF AN INTERNAL GOVERNMENT STUDY TO CONSIDER THE REGROUPING OF THE FUNCTIONS AT PRESENT CARRIED OUT BY THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS.

SUBJECT TO THE AGREEMENT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, ORGANISATIONAL CHANGES WILL TAKE PLACE IN STAGES FROM JULY ONWARDS.

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ANNOUNCING THE MAIN CHANGES TODAY { THURSDAY), A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID IT HAS BEEN PROPOSED THAT A PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS BRANCH AND A WORKS BRANCH WOULD REPLACE THE EXISTING LANDS AND WORKS BRANCH.

"AS POINTED OUT BY THE GOVERNOR IN HIS ADDRESS AT THE OPENING OF THE CURRENT LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SESSION, KEY POLICY AREAS IN OUR EFFORT TO IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENT REQUIRE A HIGH DEGREE OF CO-ORDINATION AT THE SECRETARY LEVEL.

"THE CREATION OF A PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS BRANCH ENSURE THAT DUE ATTENTION IS GIVEN TO ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS AND INTEGRATION INTO THE PLANNING SYSTEM, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

M

WILL

THEIR

IN ADDITION, THIS BRANCH WILL ENSURE THAT LAND RESOURCES ARE PROVIDED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND THAT LAND POLICIES ARE FORMULATED TO ACHIEVE OPTIMAL USE OF GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE SECTOR RESOURCES.

"THE CREATION OF A WORKS BRANCH WILL ENSURE THAT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROJECTS WITHIN THE PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME AND THE NECESSARY CHANGES TO WORKS STRUCTURE AND PROCEDURES ARE GIVEN THE FULL ATTENTION OF AN OFFICER AT THE SECRETARY LEVEL, HE ADDED.

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HE STRESSED THAT ARRANGEMENTS WOULD BE MADE ΤΟ FACILITATE CLOSE LIAISON AND CO-ORDINATION BETWEEN THE TWO SECRETARIES AND BETWEEN THEIR STAFF AT ALL LEVELS.

ON RE-ORGANISATION AT THE DEPARTMENTAL LEVEL, THE SPOKESMAN SAID A DRAINAGE SERVICES DEPARTMENT, AS ALREADY ANNOUNCED BY GOVERNOR LAST OCTOBER, AND A PLANNING DEPARTMENT WOULD BE CREATED.

THE

"THE DRAINAGE SERVICES DEPARTMENT WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE AND DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF SEWERS, DRAINS SEWAGE TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL FACILITIES. IT WILL ALSO HAVE CONTROL OVER THE INPUT INTO THESE SYSTEMS.

"THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE DEPARTMENT WILL BRING TOGETHER FUNCTIONS AT PRESENT CARRIED OUT BY A NUMBER OF EXISTING DEPARTMENTS, ALLOWING FOR BETTER CO-ORDINATION," HE SAID.

THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PLANNING AT ALL LEVELS INCLUDING STRATEGIC, SUB-REGIONAL AND DISTRICT PLANNING. IT WILL ALSO PROVIDE A CENTRAL SECRETARIAT FOR THE TOWN PLANNING AUTHORITIES.

THE TIMING .....................