TNAG-0913-FCO40-1123-Policy-on-housing-and-resettlement-in-Hong-Kong-1979 — Page 54

3.

When the land has been formed to the design level and serviced, building work on housing estates and various Government facilities begins and land intended

private development is sold.

The Development Machinery

8.

for

To implement the New Town development programme, it has been necessary to streamline and strengthen the Government machinery. A new department, known as the New Territories Development Department, was established within the Public Works Department in 1973. It is responsible for planning and implementing all development programmes in the New Territories, in consultation with the New Territories Administration, the Housing Authority and other Government departments. Overall coordination is the responsibility of the New Territories Development Progress Committee which is chaired by the Secretary for the New Territories. The department is headed by the Director of New Territories Development and has four New Town Development Offices. Each Development Office is under the control of a Project Manager supported by a team of town planners, engineers and architects. A Government Engineer is responsible for the development of Yuen Long and the rural townships.

9.

Management Committees consisting of representatives from various Government departments have been set up in the New Towns to coordinate the provision of facilities and services. These Committees deal with the practical problems of the New Towns and ensure that the level and standard of facilities and services are acceptable to residents at every stage of the development process.

10.

The pace of development in the New Towns has brought significant changes to the traditional rural setting i the New Territories and has underlined the need for new consultative links between the Government and the residents. In 1977, District Advisory Boards were set up in each of the seven administrative districts in the New Territories. The Chairman of the Board is the District Officer, some members are Government officials while the majority of members are

/unofficials