ENG-1962 — Page 216

LAND AND HOUSING

175

later known as ordnance datum, has been taken as 17.833 feet below the level of Rifleman's bolt and is now known as principal datum. As the storehouse is to be demolished the bolt has been removed and re-erected at the new Naval Barracks. All levelling in the Colony is based on this principal datum, which is approxi- mately 3.9 feet below mean sea level.

Town Planning. Town Planning in Hong Kong includes the planned development of new industrial townships, the redevelop- ment of out-of-date urban localities and the gradual expansion of the urban areas. The basic aim of the planning, therefore, is to provide a framework within which public and private develop- ment may progress together; to ensure that adequate provision is made for open spaces, public buildings, communications and other necessary services; and to control the use and to stimulate the development of land. Development densities in the present urban centres are as high as anywhere in the world and, with a possible increase in population from 3 to 4 million in the next 10 years, considerable new expansion must take place if these densities are not to rise still higher.

Planning activities are co-ordinated in the planning division of the Crown Lands and Survey Office and are concerned mainly with the preparation of outline development plans. Plans for the New Territories are prepared at the request of the District Com- missioner, who consults responsible local opinion in areas affected before individual plans are approved. Since 1953 plans have been prepared for 33 planning districts in the urban areas. In addition many large scale layout plans have been drawn up covering small portions of the urban areas and the New Territories. These plans are used as a guide in the sale of Crown land and the redevelop- ment of private land, but have no statutory effect except where approved in accordance with the Town Planning Ordinance.

The Town Planning Board consists of six official and three unofficial members and operates under the Town Planning Ordinance. The board has, to date, published outline development and layout plans for 14 districts; 12 have been approved by the Governor in Council, one refused and one is awaiting considera- tion. The board has been instructed to prepare plans in respect of Tsim Sha Tsui and Aberdeen, but these have not yet been published. Approved plans cover the following areas: North