ENG-2018 — Page 236

Chapter 13

Planning, Land and Infrastructure

To meet public needs and sustain Hong Kong's position as an advanced cosmopolitan city, the government makes timely investment in building new infrastructure, providing a better living environment through effective land-use planning, adequate land supply, greening and heritage conservation.

The Development Bureau consists of two policy branches: the Planning and Lands Branch and the Works Branch.

The Planning and Lands Branch draws up policies governing planning, development, land use and supply, urban renewal, building safety and land registration. Its policy objectives are to facilitate Hong Kong's continual development through effective planning and use of land, a steady and sufficient supply of land, a facilitative building plan approval system, efficient registration of land, promotion and regulation of building safety and timely maintenance, and expedition of urban renewal.

The Works Branch formulates public works policies and coordinates and monitors public works projects. It also takes charge of policy matters concerning the increase of land supply through reclamation outside Victoria Harbour and rock cavern development, the development of a second core business district (CBD2) in Kowloon East, greening and tree management, water supply, slope safety, lift and escalator safety, flood prevention, promotion of professional services, construction manpower resources, workers' registration as well as heritage conservation.

The bureau oversees the departments of Architectural Services, Buildings, Civil Engineering and Development, Drainage Services, Electrical and Mechanical Services, Lands, Planning, and Water Supplies, as well as the Land Registry, which helps coordinate and resolve interdepartmental issues on infrastructure development at an early stage.

The bureau also provides policy guidance to government departments on greening, landscape and tree management, and oversees the government's heritage conservation work.

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