3.06 Since, however, a period of 6 years may only be adequate to ensure completion of an estate from the date of inception, and since unforeseeable difficulties (e.g. clearance of area, site formation/foundation problems) may arise, it is essential, if the required housing needs are to be met, to look beyond the 6 year planning period in order to have in reserve alternative sites which can be used as a substitute for planned sites where delays may occur. Unfortunately, except in more remote areas unlikely to prove attractive to occupants, it is becoming more and more difficult to find a reserve of sites and this is creating a very serious problem.
3.07 As a corollary to the foregoing, where estates are planned in new or non-urban areas, the need arises to incorporate ancillary facilities either within or immediately adjoining the estates. To this end, as an example, consideration is now given to the planning of cinema sites in relation to new estates; such community facilities as bus termini, kindergartens, primary schools, recreation areas, restaurants, markets, post offices, welfare buildings and banking and public utility cash/collecting offices are already a standard provision in all estates.
Private Building Development
3.08 The work load of the Buildings Ordinance Office is governed to a great extent by the current level of private building development, and forward planning for the three General Divisions is limited to the anticipation of staff requirements based upon likely future trends in the real estate market in Hong Kong and the extent to which other duties are imposed on the office by arrangement or are likely to be imposed because of projected building or other legislation.
3.09 Proposals have been made for the urgent augmenting of existing staff in order that a positive emphasis may be placed on the inspection of works-in-progress by professional staff. Although very serious cases of construction deficiencies have been comparatively few, they have nevertheless reinforced the view that periodical but thorough inspection of works-in-progress by professional staff is absolutely necessary.
3.10 One of the principal tasks of the Dangerous Buildings Division is to carry out planned surveys of districts suspected to contain dangerous buildings and the older urban parts of the Island and Kowloon have been divided into survey areas each containing approximately 200
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3.06 Since, however, a period of 6 years may only be adequate to ensure completion of an estate from the date of inception, and since unforeseeable difficulties (e.g. clearance of area, site formation/founda- tion problems) may arise, it is essential, if the required housing needs. are to be met, to look beyond the 6 year planning period in order to have in reserve alternative sites which can be used as a substitute for planned sites where delays may occur. Unfortunately, except in more remote areas unlikely to prove attractive to occupants, it is becoming more and more difficult to find a reserve of sites and this is creating a very serious problem.
3.07 As a corollary to the foregoing, where estates are planned in new or non-urban areas, the need arises to incorporate ancillary facilities either within or immediately adjoining the estates. To this end, as an example, consideration is now given to the planning of cinema sites in relation to new estates; such community facilities as bus termini, kindergartens, primary schools, recreation areas, restaurants, markets, post offices, welfare buildings and banking and public utility cash/ collecting offices are already a standard provision in all estates.
Private Building Development
3.08 The work load of the Buildings Ordinance Office is governed to a great extent by the current level of private building development, and forward planning for the three General Divisions is limited to the anticipation of staff requirements based upon likely future trends in the real estate market in Hong Kong and the extent to which other duties are imposed on the office by arrangement or are likely to be imposed because of projected building or other legislation.
3.09 Proposals have been made for the urgent augmenting of existing staff in order that a positive emphasis may be placed on the inspection of works-in-progress by professional staff. Although very serious cases of construction deficiencies have been comparatively few, they have nevertheless reinforced the view that periodical but thorough inspection of works-in-progress by professional staff is absolutely necessary.
3.10 One of the principal tasks of the Dangerous Buildings Division is to carry out planned surveys of districts suspected to contain dangerous buildings and the older urban parts of the Island and Kowloon have been divided into survey areas each containing approximately 200
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