TNAG-1980-FCO40-2813-Pollution-in-Hong-Kong-1989 — Page 68

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CHAPTER 6

PLANNING AGAINST POLLUTION

6.1

In the

drive for

growth and development in the

1960's, 70's, and 80's to meet the needs of a rapidly

expanding

population and

increased

industrial activity, environmental

took

y ears

second place to development.

there

commercial

and

considerations usually

Although in recent

has been a greater desire to address

environmental matters and increased understanding of such

issues, the la ck of adequate planning controls has

the creation of new environmental problems.

6.2

Thus, in an effort to meet urgent housing nee ds,

blocks of residential flats have be en bu ilt on sites

surrounded by industrial buildings so that living rooms and

bedrooms look straight ou t onto chimney tops not ma ny

metres away.

Other blocks have been sited adjacent to the

aircraft servicing and engine test area at Kai Tak airport.

To

meet urgent

infrastructural

requirements,

6.3

large areas of land have been reclaimed changing water

flows and creating putrid ba ckwaters. And n ew roads have

been built very close to existing develop ments.

6.4

Neither have the rural areas escaped the results

develop ment. The relative ineffectiveness of

of piece meal

lease conditions

have resulted

New

in

Territories

and unsatisfied demand for storage space

large areas of agricu ltural land in the

being filled and turned over to open

storage, for containers and construction materials,

vehicle

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