Regulation (Amendment) No. 2 encouraged every owner Can we mic relations with other countries," he stated. to develop. Thus, the developers were intoxicated and omitted to consider and reflect on how long the demand would continue and what its ultimate effect would be. this was There was no question of market research El Dorado.
"Such a state of affairs,” said Mr. Kwok, "could only result in unrealistic land prices. Extensive development naturally leads to this present_recession.”
COMPREHENSIVE MASTER PLAN
Returning to the subject of planning a better environ- ment, Mr. Kwok said that Hong Kong faced special pro- blems relative to the production of a comprehensive plan.
"Our environment and industrial activities are con- stantly changing to meet the fresh demands of our econo- mic relations with other countries," he stated. "Can we honestly say that a comprehensive fixed master plan will be the answer? I personally feel that it could, only if the plan could be implemented in a flexible way to meet constant changes.
"It must not be a plan that followed the example of other cities, but one that was created for Hong Kong only. Government has realised that long term planning must be tempered with the reality of the ever changing environ- ment of our Colony.”
Mr. Kwok thought that although some Hong Kong architecture had achieved such a standard as to be includ- ed in the leading architectural magazines of the world, on the whole the majority of the Colony's buildings to-day still followed the associated requirements of Ordinance Architecture. They in effect represented no architecture and they were merely a diagram what the building re- gulations permitted.
The president pointed out that this year the Society had set up seminars to discuss the various problems as- sociated with the building regulations.
"In our private gatherings we have so often discussed these problems but it has never gone further," he said. "In these seminars I propose that we should analyse the effects of the various planning regulations and prepare a report for discussion with the Building Authority. The Authority performs an essential role in the shaping of our environment and we must work with them as a team."
SOCIETY'S LARGEST ESTATE COMPLETE
Completion of the largest of the Hong Kong Housing Society's twelve estate's the Ming Wah estate at Shau Kei Wan was marked in February by an official open- ing ceremony performed by the Governor. Sir David Trench.
The estate consists of 3.029 flats housing 18,309 persons. Its capital cost amounted to about HK$25.5 million. This has been partly met by government loan at five per cent interest per annum repayable over 40 years,
and partly by loans from government and private firms under the Housing Society's Loan Scheme. In return government and individual firms nominate employees for the flats.
A communal kitchen block has been included in the estate to house lower income groups. Architect for the project is Mr. Szeto Wai.
BANGKOK FLYOVER STARTING
BANGKOK Municipality has announced the construction of the city's first flyover bridge at one of its busiest in- tersections at Pratunam (Petchburi and Raja-prarop Roads).
Work on the reinforced concrete structure will start The immediately and will take one year to complete.
ร
AMENNY
Pratunam intersection. Flyover will cross from left to right (east-west)
Model of the flyover
An
flyover will lie in an east-west direction for relieving the in and outward traffic flows along Petchburi Road. expected flow rate of 1,370 vehicles per hour in each direction on the bridge is the basis for the design which will accomodate traffic movement at this intersection for the next ten years.
General dimensions of the bridge are: overall length
СГГГЕРГЕ
View of the Hong Kong Housing Society's Ming Wah estate, opened last month
34
Far East Architect & Builder March, 1966
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