ENG-2006 — Page 264

216 Land, Public Works and Utilities

the Government started a joint study with the Shenzhen Municipal Government on a new corridor to be built at Liantang/Heung Yuen Wai. The study was set up to establish the need, function and benefits of the corridor. At the same time, the Government has been carrying out an internal planning study to examine the relevant planning, environmental and engineering issues of the new cross-boundary control point, including its connecting roads and land requirements within Hong Kong's territory.

Land Supply

On land supply, our policy objective is to provide sufficient land to meet the development needs of the community. In 2006, the Housing, Planning and Lands Bureau (HPLB) continued to arrange the sale of government land through the Application List system. In drawing up the list, the bureau made available, for application by developers, sites located in various districts, for different uses and of different sizes to meet the market needs. The bureau also coordinated the timetable for the disposal of railway property developments to ensure there would not be any adverse impact on the property market.

Building Safety and Maintenance

Encouraging owners to maintain their buildings properly, to remove unauthorised building works (UBWs) and to ensure building safety continued to be HPLB's key area of work in the year. The bureau continued to oversee the implementation of the recommendations in the "Comprehensive Strategy for Building Safety and Timely Maintenance" announced in April 2001. To step up further the work of the Buildings Department (BD) in ensuring public safety, additional resources were allocated to the department to combat UBWs further and to strengthen enforcement of the regulations.

To tackle the problem of building neglect over the long term, the bureau launched a public consultation drive called Mandatory Building Inspection in October 2006. It built the foundation for taking forward the proposed mandatory building inspection scheme and mandatory window inspection scheme by way of legislation. Under the proposed schemes, owners of target buildings will be required to inspect their buildings and windows on a regular basis and carry out necessary rectification.

More details of the bureau's work are given in the ensuing paragraphs.

Organisational Framework

The Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works is responsible for the delivery of public works projects in a cost-effective manner and the formulation of policies on slope safety, water supply, flood control, construction site safety and greening. The Secretary also oversees, and has policy responsibility for the activities of the six Works Departments Architectural Services Department, Civil Engineering and Development Department, Drainage Services Department, Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, Highways Department and Water Supplies