ENG-1995 — Page 241

LAND, PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES

During the year, the department was involved in the drafting of an amendment bill to the existing Town Planning Ordinance; reviewing the Territorial Development Strategy; updating the North-West, South-West and North-East New Territories Sub-regional Development Strategies and the Hong Kong Planning Standards and Guidelines; identifying housing sites, assessing housing demand and forecast of land supply for housing and other major land uses; follow-up work on the Port and Airport Development Strategy, the Metroplan Selected Strategy, and the Rural Planning and Improvement Strategy.

It was also engaged in forward planning and development control for the districts, including co-ordination of various urban renewal efforts; and in undertaking enforcement action against unauthorised developments in designated rural areas.

Review of the Town Planning Ordinance

The Town Planning Ordinance was enacted in 1939. In 1987, the Executive Council ordered that an overall review of the ordinance should be undertaken, with a view to introducing new legislation to meet Hong Kong's changing circumstances.

Public consultation on the comprehensive review of the Town Planning Ordinance was carried out in 1991. As part of the review, a special committee was set up to consider specifically the complex and contentious issue of compensation and betterment arising from planning actions. After careful consideration of the sub- missions and views from various sectors, the special committee completed its work and submitted a report to the Governor in 1992.

The administration has completed analysis of the public comments received and the recommendations of the special committee. An amendment bill to the existing ordinance will be introduced to the Legislative Council in the 1995/96 session.

Hong Kong Planning Standards and Guidelines

This is a government document of planning criteria and guidelines for determining the quantity, scale, location and site requirements of various land uses and facilities. It is applied to planning studies, the preparation or revision of town plans and development control. It is constantly under review to take account of changes in government policies, demographic characteristics as well as social and economic trends. Major work undertaken during the year included the formulation and revision of planning standards and guidelines for hospital facilities, social service for the elderly, conservation, and port back-up and open storage uses.

To promote public awareness of planning and to facilitate the use of the document by non-government bodies, it has been made available in various libraries. The document is also available for sale to the public, on a chapter-by-chapter basis.

Territorial Development Strategy

The Territorial Development Strategy (TDS) is the highest tier in the hierarchy of town plans in Hong Kong. It provides a broad, long-term framework on land use, transport and environmental matters for the planning and development of the territory. It aims to facilitate the continued growth of Hong Kong as a regional centre of business and finance, a high-capacity container port and an international focal point for aviation.

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