ENG-1994 — Page 264

LAND, PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES

In another major development, Hong Kong began to receive electricity generated by nuclear power from China during the year.

The Organisational Framework

The main objectives of the government's lands and works policies are to ensure an adequate supply of land to meet the needs of the public and private sectors, to optimise the use of land within the framework of land-use zoning and development strategies, and to ensure the co- ordinated development of infrastructure and buildings.

The Secretary for Planning, Environment and Lands is chairman of the Development Progress Committee. This committee is responsible for monitoring the general progress of the physical development of the territory, as well as considering and approving detailed planning briefs, layouts and development plans. He is also chairman of the Town Planning Board, and has policy responsibility for conservation.

In addition to his policy functions, the Secretary for Planning, Environment and Lands oversees the operation of the Buildings Department, Drainage Services Department (jointly with the Secretary for Works), Environmental Protection Department, Lands Department and Planning Department, as well as the Land Registry, which is operated on a trading fund basis. He also oversees part of the work of the Agriculture and Fisheries Department, Civil Engineering Department, Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, Marine Department and Territory Development Department.

The Secretary for Works oversees, and has policy responsibility for, the works agency activities of the Architectural Services Department, Civil Engineering Department, Drainage Services Department, Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, Highways Department, Territory Development Department and Water Supplies Department. In addition, he oversees the operation of the Architectural Services Department (in part), Civil Engineering Department, Electrical and Mechanical Services Department and the Water Supplies Department's services. He is also responsible for the Sewage Services Trading Fund in the Drainage Services Department. The New Airport Projects Co-ordination Office (NAPCO) was set up in February 1991 under the Secretary for Works to co-ordinate the implementation of the Airport Core Programme (ACP).

Planning

Given the limited land resources in Hong Kong and the territory's phenomenal economic growth, together with the changed aspirations of a more affluent society, it is a great challenge to plan for the competing demands of housing, commerce, industry, transporta- tion and the utilities, as well as for recreation, education, medical and health care, and other community facilities.

Town planning is carried out by the Planning Department under policy directives from the Planning, Environment and Lands Branch.

During the year, the department was involved in the drafting of a White Bill for the new Planning Ordinance; reviewing the Territorial Development Strategy; updating the Northwest, Southwest and Northeast New Territories Sub-regional Development Strategies and the Hong Kong Planning Standards and Guidelines; and follow-up work on the Port and Airport Development Strategy, the Metroplan Selected Strategy, and the Rural Planning and Improvement Strategy.

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