ENG-1987 — Page 208

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Land, Public Works and Utilities

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THE primary objectives of the government's lands and works policies are to ensure an adequate supply of land to meet the short-term and long-term needs of both the public and private sectors, to optimise the use of land within the framework of land use zoning and development plans and to ensure co-ordinated physical development in infrastructure and buildings.

Policy responsibility for land, public works and private development rests with the Secretary for Lands and Works who heads a branch which, in addition to its policy functions, monitors the performance of the seven departments in the Lands and Works group, namely the Architectural Services, Buildings and Lands, Civil Engineering Services, Electrical and Mechanical Services, Highways, Territory Development and Water Supplies departments. He is the Chairman of the Town Planning Board and of the Development Progress Committee, which is responsible, among other things, for considering and approving detailed planning briefs and planning layouts for development areas in accord- ance with standards laid down by the Land Development Policy Committee.

The Land Development Policy Committee, chaired by the Chief Secretary, is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the physical development of the territory and for approving, in principle, all major proposals affecting the development or planned use of land. The Land and Building Advisory Committee with the chairman and eight members drawn from the private sector, advises the government on a wide range of issues, including the adequacy of the land development programme and of the policies and procedures relating to land, buildings and the construction industry.

The Sino-British Land Commission met regularly in 1987 to discuss issues arising from the implementation of the agreement on land leases set out in Annex III to the Sino-British Joint Declaration on the future of Hong Kong which included the projected long-term land disposal requirements, the purpose of which is to enable the Land Com- mission to prepare each year's land disposal programme in the light of longer-term development requirements.

Another notable development regarding land leases in 1987 was the introduction into the Legislative Council of the New Territories Leases (Extension) Bill, which seeks to extend the vast majority of New Territories leases to the year 2047 without requiring payment of a premium, in accordance with Annex III to the Joint Declaration.

Arising from a review in 1987 of the territorial planning strategy in support of Hong Kong's future economic development, a Port and Airport Development Strategy Study will commence in early 1988. It will review the various options for port and airport development and their planning implications.

In line with the government's objective to improve the living environment of the metropolitan areas around the harbour, a special team was established in the Strategic