ENG-1959 — Page 226

186

HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT

by the emphasis on large scale schemes for multi-storey develop- ment. The value of new buildings in Hong Kong, Kowloon and New Kowloon reached the record figure of $244,693,451.67.

This multi-storey development is not wholly confined to the city centre and buildings of fifteen to twenty storeys are being con- structed throughout the urban areas of the Colony.

Private developers again made the greatest contribution to housing, if Resettlement projects are excluded, but non-profit groups were also very active and continued to expand. More local Government officers took advantage of the Government assisted co-operative housing schemes, many of which were completed, while others were under construction. The demand for apartment buildings in the upper rental bracket continued and several major schemes of architectural merit providing luxury accommodation were completed or were under construction.

Stimulated by the increase in tourism the character of the Kow- loon peninsula is changing rapidly. Five modern hotels offering a total of 1,064 rooms and 80 suites will be ready for tourists in the near future. In the same district seven multi-storey composite buildings comprising nearly 500 shops and over 2,000 flats are under construction and work on others will soon start. On the Island too, there are proposals for several hotels.

Industrial development has been concentrated mainly on the mainland. Many large modern factories have been erected in the Hung Hom, Cheung Sha Wan, and Kwun Tong areas and more are under construction. The industrial town at Kwun Tong, in particular, continues to grow.

The rate of development is reflected in the figures that follow. Plans for 1,066 new buildings were submitted to the Building Authority during 1959 and of these 783 were for houses, flats or apartment blocks, housing schemes, Chinese-type tenements, and low-cost one-room flats. In addition, several thousand plans were received dealing with works other than for new buildings; these covered the reconstruction, alteration or enlargement of existing buildings, site formation schemes, drainage works, demolitions, and amendments to plans previously approved.

During the same period 610 permits were issued allowing the occupation of completed buildings. Of these permits 440 were for