1973-1974 — Page 11

1.15

The increasing amount of work associated with the valuation and acquisition of property in connection with the Public Works Programme, Urban Renewal and Environmental Improvement necessitated the setting-up of a Valuation Branch within Crown Lands and Survey Office. Staff no longer required for work on Lease Renewal were transferred to the new Branch.

1.16

In acknowledgement of the importance of its role the Town Planning Branch of Crown Lands and Survey Office was made into a separate Town Planning Office, while remaining the responsibility of the Director of Lands and Survey.

years.

1.17

Rainfall was above average and the wet season ended with a storage position in relation to demand comparatively more favourable than the previous

Plover Cove Reservoir was filled to its new capacity for the first time during September. A continuous 24-hour water supply was maintained throughout the year.

1.18

Work continued on the construction of access roads and the tunnels and intake complex for the High Island Water Scheme. Work on the reservoir itself was well in hand. Raising of the Plover Cove dams and the extension of Sha Tin Treatment Works and Tai Po Tau Pumping Station were substantially completed. Marine and general civil engineering works for the 40 million gallons per day single purpose desalting plant were well advanced and the erection of evaporators and boilers was in progress.

1.19 The New Territories Development Department was established on 1st August 1973 and took over responsibility for the planning and co-ordination of development for the three New Towns at Sha Tin, Tuen Mun and Tsuen Wan (which includes Kwai Chung and Tsing Yi Island) and for the New Territories rural centres.

1.20

Consulting engineers were engaged and commenced work on engineering feasibility studies and detailed designs of various stages of development in the New Towns.

ORGANIZATION

1.21

The Department combines many functions which in other countries would be undertaken by a number of agencies, namely :-

Building

(a) The design, construction and maintenance of Government buildings.

(b) The control of private development.

Engineering (a) Civil Engineering.

Land

(b) Highway Construction and Traffic Engineering.

(c)

(d)

Electrical and Mechanical Engineering.

Railway Engineering including the Mass Transit Railway.

(a) The disposal of Crown Land.

(b) The acquisition of land for public purposes.

(c) Land Surveying.

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