ENG-2000 — Page 278

LAND, PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES

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developed by the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department to recognise measures taken to save energy.

The Government has signed an agreement with the power companies in May on the 'Demand Side Management' to promote energy efficiency and conservation. In pursuance of this initiative, the Government has taken the lead in installing energy- efficient lighting for new buildings and retrofit projects.

Green Management

With the support of the private sector, the general awareness of environmental protection in the construction industry has been increasing through various government initiatives. The Green Contractor Award Scheme was promulgated to increase publicity and awareness of green issues. The Green Manager Scheme has been sustained to monitor consumption of all types of paper, electricity use and indoor air quality in government offices through better housekeeping.

Land Administration

The main functions of the Lands Administration Office of the Lands Department, which consists of a headquarters and 14 District Lands Offices, are land acquisition, land disposal, land management and lease enforcement. Land use statistics are given in the Appendices.

Land Acquisition

When private property is needed to be acquired in the public interest, mostly to implement public works projects, and it cannot be acquired by negotiation, it may be resumed under ordinances which provide for payment of compensation based on the value of the property and for business loss where appropriate, at the date of acquisition. If agreement cannot be reached on the amount payable, either party can refer the claim to the Lands Tribunal for adjudication. Apart from statutory compensation, there is a system of ex gratia payments.

In the New Territories, a total of 222 470 square metres of private land was acquired in 2000. This comprised 218 509 square metres of agricultural land and 3 961 square metres of building land. A large percentage of the resumed area was to provide land necessary for the implementation of road improvement and drainage improvement works.

In the urban area, 200 private lots were resumed in 2000. The office has been processing the resumption of private lots for two large-scale public housing and school development projects located at Diamond Hill and Inverness Road, Kowloon. The lots reverted to the Government in March and are expected to be cleared in 2001.

More than $1.58 billion was paid out in compensation in 2000.

The Lands Department was also involved in the resumption of land for implementation of urban renewal projects carried out by the Land Development Corporation. During the year, 164 properties at Yau Ma Tei, Wan Chai, Kennedy Town, Tsuen Wan and Tsim Sha Tsui were resumed. Compensation totalling $97 million was paid to owners of 33 resumed properties affected by the urban renewal projects. Ex gratia payments totalling $13 million were also paid to 391 occupiers to facilitate removal from resumed properties.