ENG-1987 — Page 219

LAND, PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES

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Surveys in land and floor uses covering the whole territory were conducted or updated to provide the basic input in the preparation of statutory and departmental plans. Land use surveys were completed for Happy Valley, Chai Wan and Ho Man Tin Hill. Studies such as forecast of future land supply and demand, industrial employment, space requirement of showrooms in industrial buildings, uses beneath flyovers, characteristics of petrol filling stations and dangerous goods storage were carried out during the year. Special studies, such as planning strategy for Kowloon Tong Garden Estate and pedestrianisation of vehicular streets were also carried out. These studies provide information for the formula- tion of land development and planning policies. Site searches for major projects of territorial or sub-regional significance were also conducted.

The General Information and Technical Administration Unit of the Town Planning Office, established in 1980, provides a common channel through which planning informa- tion is released to the public. The unit-also promotes public understanding of town planning and development in Hong Kong by issuing pamphlets, reports, and other forms of publication. A total of 3 050 enquiries from members of the public were handled by or through the arrangement of this unit, representing a 68 per cent increase compared with 1820 enquiries in 1986. Persons seeking planning advice and planning information included various overseas visitors and officials, professionals, property owners, district boards, developers, journalists and students.

New Towns and Rural Townships

The launching of a major housing programme in 1972 provided the impetus for the new towns development programmes. The objective of this housing programme was to provide proper-housing for 1.8 million people, the majority of whom were to be accommodated in new towns in the New Territories. This target was substantially achieved and the new towns programmes have since been extended into the 1990s. The 'first generation' new towns Tsuen Wan, Sha Tin and Tuen Mun are already housing 1.4 million people and are expected to reach substantial completion by the early 1990s. Extensive developments are still continuing in other new towns - Tai Po, Fanling, Yuen Long and Junk Bay, which now have a population of some 390 000 and the major works will be completed by the mid-1990s. Work has also begun on land formation at Tin Shui Wai for a new town that will accommodate about 140 000 people and which should reach final development by the late 1990s. On completion of the present development programmes, the population of the New Territories will have risen to nearly 3.5 million people compared with the present two million and less than half a million in 1970.

To ensure proper co-ordination of the planning and implementation of development works in the whole territory, the Territory Development Department is constituted on a multi-disciplinary basis and includes professional officers with expertise in civil engineering, town planning, architecture and landscaping. A close working relationship is maintained with the Housing Department in implementing the public housing programme and the City and New Territories Administration, Urban Services Department and Regional Services Departments in fostering the growth of new well-balanced communities.

The private sector also plays a major role in the provision of consulting services to the new town development offices and in a range of privately financed housing developments and facilities.

Tsuen Wan

Since its birth in the post-war years as an industrial satellite of urban Kowloon, Tsuen Wan New Town, which includes Kwai Chung, Tsing Yi and Tsuen Wan, has grown to a thriving