ENG-1984 — Page 226

LAND, PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES

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vast quantity of statistics on costs and benefits produced and the need to choose from many options called for the use of computer techniques to assist analysis. As a result, several components of potential development common to possible alternative strategies were identified which would assist the growth and diversification of the economy by enhancing port, business and financial facilities, enable road and rail systems to be extended, and improve and help relieve some of the pressures of population growth.

First efforts in the 1990s beyond the new towns programme are therefore likely to concentrate on such common components as further reclamation and other works around the harbour which will leave the choice of long-term options open for the time being. By the end of the period under review, preparations were being made for detailed planning and engineering studies, necessary for the implementation of these works, to be undertaken.

Land Administration

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The Director of Lands is the authority for all land matters in Hong Kong. The Lands Department co-ordinates all aspects of land administration - surveying, planning, land sales and development, and legal matters throughout the territory. In addition to its headquarters, the department has 12 district lands offices: two on Hong Kong Island, two in Kowloon and eight in the New Territories. District lands officers are responsible for most aspects of land administration and land disposal, while the headquarters formulates territory-wide policy and gives guidance on more complex matters. The establishment of district lands officers has paralleled the District Administration Scheme and the setting up of district boards throughout Hong Kong. The district lands officers are members of these boards and are therefore in a position to respond both quickly and sympathetically to district needs.

Land Supply

All land in Hong Kong is owned by the Crown, which sells or grants leasehold interests. In the early days, Crown leases were for terms of 75, 99 or 999 years. They have now been standardised in the urban areas of Hong Kong Island and Kowloon to a term of 75 years, usually renewable for a further 75 years at a reassessed Crown rent under the pro- visions of the Crown Leases Ordinance. Crown leases for land in the New Territories and New Kowloon are normally sold for the residue of a term of 99 years less three days from July 1, 1898.

The government's land policy is to optimise the use of land within the framework of land use zoning and development plans. Most land available for commercial, industrial or residential (other than public housing) development in the urban areas is sold by public auction or tender. Regular auctions are held by the government and a six-monthly provisional Crown land sales forecast is published twice a year. In the towns of the New Territories, however, where much of the development land has to be resumed, a high proportion of development land is disposed of by tender.

Leases for certain special purposes, which have particular site requirements or other factors which would make a public auction inappropriate, are offered for sale by public tender. These special purposes include capital intensive industries, introducing higher technology and more technological skills into Hong Kong, which could not be appro- priately housed in multi-storey buildings. Such sales are initiated only in response to formal applications and in certain circumstances may be concluded by private treaty, subject to the approval of the Governor in Council.