ENG-1957 — Page 239

LAND AND HOUSING

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the Public Works Department and other Government depart- ments in planning matters.

This organization was not designed to plan on a com- prehensive scale, and planning activity since 1953 has been confined to preparing outline development plans for 22 of the less developed of the 36 planning districts into which the urban area is divided, and of the Tsuen Wan - Kwai Chung district. In addition, layout plans of villages and of small areas in the towns have been prepared as required. These have been used as a guide in the sale of Crown land and the development of private land, where this can be done without incurring unreasonable expenditure from the public purse.

In the case of five planning districts, i.e. North Point, Yau Ma Tei, Hung Hom, Ma Tau Kok and Chai Wan, which include a large percentage of private property, the outline development plans have been exhibited publicly, and the resulting criticisms or suggestions considered before final submission to the Governor in Council for approval.

The general work of this Town Planning Unit, and in particular the preparation of outline development plans, takes place under the auspices of the Town Planning Board established under the Town Planning Ordinance.

Planning during recent years has been mainly concerned with the provision of land for resettlement and every other form of housing; provision of land to cope with the enormous expansion in local industry; the improvement of communica- tions; and the effects of the Building Ordinance, 1955, which permits higher buildings than hitherto. These subjects are also dealt with more fully in other parts of this Report.