ENG-1995 — Page 257

LAND, PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES

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organisations including the seven universities, the Hospital Authority, the Hong Kong Institute of Education and social welfare agencies.

The department also gave advice on facilities to be provided to the government by private developers in connection with land grant arrangements. These included office accommodation, transport interchanges and neighbourhood social welfare facilities. Maintenance and minor improvement works are the main tasks of the department's Property Services Branch which is responsible for a portfolio of about 7 000 buildings and facilities. The branch has a full programme of refurbishment works at the older properties in government use, and also tackles the fitting-out of new accommodation. The branch's Antiquities Group specialises in the restoration and conservation of historical listed buildings and gazetted monuments throughout Hong Kong. Its work continues to attract media and public interest and to attract awards for the quality of its work. Among other projects, it is developing a new Heritage Trail at Kam Tin. Protection of the external environment and the provision of a healthy and pleasant internal environment are among the most important facets of the department's design work. Special working groups have conducted investigations and implemented measures in areas of indoor air quality (IAQ), energy conservation, environmentally friendly refrigerants, improved standards of thermal insulation materials for air- conditioning installations and better water sterilisation for swimming pools.

More efficient air-filters are being used and air-duct cleaning facilities are being provided in government buildings. The department is monitoring the regulations and requirements on IAQ in other developed countries to ensure that the latest prac- tices are followed. It also assists the Environmental Protection Department in the consultancy study on IAQ.

The department constantly promulgates energy-efficient designs. The "Energy Conservation in Building" booklet has been re-issued, incorporating up-to-date energy conservation measures. The department ceased using ozone-depleting refrigerants for air-conditioning installations and refrigerants with zero ozone- depleting potential danger are being introduced under the programme. The chlorine gas sterilisation system for all existing Urban Council and Regional Council swimming pools is being replaced by an ozone sterilisation system which eliminates the potential problems and hazards associated with the use of chlorine gas and thus enhances the pools' amenity value.

Land Administration

The Lands Administration Office of the Lands Department, which consists of a headquarters and 14 District Lands Offices, administers land throughout the territory. Its main functions are to acquire land and make land available for the government's development programmes; to dispose of land in accordance with a programme approved by the Sino-British Land Commission; to manage all unallocated government land; and to ensure the use of private land complies with its lease conditions. Land usage statistics are included in the appendices.

Land Acquisition

When private property is needed in the public interest, which in most cases is for the implementation of public works projects, and cannot be acquired by negotiation, the use of compulsory powers becomes necessary. Property may then be acquired under