ENG-1971 — Page 167

LAND AND HOUSING

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editions published, and another eight sheets are scheduled to be completed in 1972. These sheets are being sold at a price less than half that charged for the first edition (published by the Directorate of Overseas Surveys in the United Kingdom) and demand from the public has been good.

All 20 sheets covering the Colony at 1:25,000 scale (Series L882) have now been published by the Directorate of Overseas Surveys; these were produced by reduction of the 1:10,000 maps. Sub- sequent editions, however, will be published by the Directorate of Military Surveys in Britain. After each 'block' of four sheets at 1:10,000 scale has been revised by the Survey Branch, copies of the amended sheets are sent to the Directorate to be used in the prep- aration of second edition maps at 1:25,000 scale. The sheet in the second edition (covering Kowloon and the north-west portion of Hong Kong Island) has now been published and two more sheets should be available in 1972.

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Other new maps published in 1971 included a 1:50,000 scale multi-coloured map of the Colony in two sheets. This map has proved to be very useful to the public in general and to motorists in particular. The first sheet of a new 'countryside series' covering Hong Kong Island and showing scenic walks, picnic areas and recreational facilities was well received and the first edition was sold out in a few months. A revised second edition has been published and is also selling well. Preparation for the second sheet in this series, which covers the New Territories mainland east, is under way and will be completed in 1972. The popular folded 'tourist' map of Hong Kong, which has been reprinted several times in the past, has now been completely redesigned and will be printed in bilingual form in early 1972.

The aerial camera was damaged last year and it has not been possible for the Survey Branch to carry out vertical aerial photog- raphy. However, funds were approved in September for the purchase of a twin-engined 'Islander' aircraft for the RHKAAF and a modern aerial survey camera. The new camera is expected to be delivered in early 1972 and it is planned to use aerial photog- raphy to speed up the revision of large-scale plans.

As the Public Works Department is committed to a policy of metrication, intensive investigations are now going on in the Survey Branch to ascertain the best methods of implementing this policy in the quickest possible time and with minimum disruption to current output. The Government Land Surveyor is co-ordinating