the opportunity is then taken to ensure that their plans conform with, inter alia, lease conditions and statutory town planning layouts. While the responsibility for ensuring that buildings are constructed in accordance with regulations and the approved plans rests with authorized architects and registered contractors, spot-check site inspections are nevertheless carried out by office staff, the frequency of these inspections being dictated to some extent by the pressure of other duties. An occupation permit is only issued when the appropriate Chief Building Surveyor is satisfied that the building conforms with building law in all respects.
5.10 The building boom continued in most sectors. Approval notices issued for proposed buildings of all types showed a 10% increase compared with last year, indicating that interest in real estate remains generally high although factory and tenement approvals were lower by nearly 50%. The number of buildings certified for occupation was 688, which was a 19% increase over last year, their declared capital cost amounting to $991.2 million. An increase in building activity was particularly noticeable in the North Point and Wan Chai districts, areas which have no doubt been stimulated by the construction of the Cross Harbour Tunnel due to be opened in July 1972. It is notable that developers have voluntarily included parking facilities within a number of recent proposals in this area.
5.11 Two completed buildings added particular interest to the Mid-levels scene during the year; Century Tower, which is a 36-storey circular apartment building, and the Bowen Road Switching Station, which is designed with a slightly nautical flavour in keeping with its harbour setting. The development of the urban areas of Tai Po, Castle Peak, Kwai Chung and Tsuen Wan proceeded at a good pace, lower and middle class residential accommodation predominating. Work proceeded on a number of hotels situated mainly in established tourist areas and plans have been received for the redevelopment of Holts Wharf with a hotel, convention hall, shopping centre and residential flats complex, which may prove to be one of the biggest private developments yet seen.
5.12 The local press paid more attention than usual to the activities of the Office in 1971, following the Chong Hing Mansion case referred to in last year's report, and this publicity may have given rise to the spate of mainly anonymous letters received by the Office alleging that sub-standard concrete was being used on a number of scattered building sites. Detailed investigation of the 49 complaints received in a relatively
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the opportunity is then taken to ensure that their plans conform with, inter alia, lease conditions and statutory town planning layouts. While the responsibility for ensuring that buildings are constructed in accord- ance with regulations and the approved plans rests with authorized architects and registered contractors, spot-check site inspections are nevertheless carried out by office staff, the frequency of these inspections being dictated to some extent by the pressure of other duties. An occupa- tion permit is only issued when the appropriate Chief Building Surveyor is satisfied that the building conforms with building law in all respects.
5.10 The building boom continued in most sectors. Approval notices issued for proposed buildings of all types showed a 10% increase compared with last year, indicating that interest in real estate remains generally high although factory and tenement approvals were lower by nearly 50%. The number of buildings certified for occupation was 688, which was a 19% increases over last year, their declared capital cost amounting to $991.2 million. An increase in building activity was particularly noticeable in the North Point and Wan Chai districts, areas which have no doubt been stimulated by the construction of the Cross Harbour Tunnel due to be opened in July 1972. It is notable that developers have voluntarily included parking facilities within a number of recent proposals in this area.
5.11 Two completed buildings added particular interest to the Mid- levels scene during the year; Century Tower, which is a 36-storey circular apartment building, and the Bowen Road Switching Station, which is designed with a slightly nautical flavour in keeping with its harbour setting. The development of the urban areas of Tai Po, Castle Peak, Kwai Chung and Tsuen Wan proceeded at a good pace, lower and middle class residential accommodation predominating. Work pro- ceeded on a number of hotels situated mainly in established tourist areas and plans have been received for the redevelopment of Holts Wharf with a hotel, convention hall, shopping centre and residential flats complex, which may prove to be one of the biggest private developments yet seen.
5.12 The local press paid more attention than usual to the activities of the Office in 1971, following the Chong Hing Mansion case referred to in last year's report, and this publicity may have given rise to the spate of mainly anonymous letters received by the Office alleging that sub-standard concrete was being used on a number of scattered building sites. Detailed investigation of the 49 complaints received in a relatively
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