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DRAFT PLANS FOR HK SATELLITE TOWNS
DRAFT plans for the long-term development of Sha Tin and Castle Peak in the New Territories of Hong Kong, as satellite towns, each with a population of a million, were announced last month.
The plans have been prepared by the Hong Kong Town Planning Board under the provisions of the Town Planning Ordinance.
They are intended to provide a statutory land use pattern within which the use and development of land may be legally controlled. The aim is to provide land for residential and industrial development within the framework of a balanced land use pattern to allow people to live within a reasonable distance of their place of work.
The draft plans enable estimates to be made of po- pulation and intensities of land use to allow adequate pro- vision of public services, satisfactory and efficient lines of communications and community facilities for the wel- fare of the population.
SHA TIN
The development scheme for Sha Tin encompasses 4,788 acres, of which 2,661 acres are zoned as green belt. Five hundred acres are seabed to be reclaimed.
The scheme recommends reclamation of the Sha Tin inlet as far as Fo Tan, and two subsidiary reclamations, one on either side of the inlet; for the re-alignment of Tai Po Road to accommodate new railway workshops and provision of site for a sewage treatment works.
It also recommends the building up of low-lying land in the Sha Tin, Pak Tin and Fo Tan Villages and the terracing of adjacent hills to provide the filling material. Also included are proposals for main drainage, water supply, sewage disposal and main roads.
Of the total area of development, 747 acres of land have been allocated for residential purposes and 213 acres
SHA TIN
GREEN BELT
GREEN BELT
EGEND
WHI RESIDENTIAL
CENTRAL AREA
INDUSTRIAL
ANNEL
GREEN BEL
GOVERNMENT, INSTITUTION & COMMUNITY
OPEN SPACE
for open space. The plan recommends that the residen- tial areas be divided into convenient environmental units within which provision will be made for local shops, schools, open spaces, institutions and other community requirements associated with predominantly residential
use.
Commercial Centre
It is also proposed that there should be comprehen- sively designed local business centres on certain selected sites within the principal high density residential areas.
A central area of about 45 acres has been planned in the development scheme. The detailed layout for this area should provide for major shopping facilities, Govern- ment buildings, offices, markets, car parks, cinemas and other community requirements.
If the plan is approved, residential occupation will be encouraged in multi-purpose commercial residential build- ings to ensure that the amenities provided are put to maximum use and an active commercial centre maintain- ed. Segregation of pedestrian and vehicular traffic is re- commended for this area at the detailed planning stage.
The industrial areas in the plan, amounting to 467 acres, are divided into three separate main groups. Their location along the principal axis of the town together with the proposed distributory roads should assist movement of traffic on minor roads within the industrial areas. They are separated from the residential areas by open spaces or other physical features.
If approved, the scheme for Sha Tin will be carried out in stages in order to avoid disturbing too much private land until Crown land is available for exchange purposes. The phasing of development will also be necessary for balanced residential, industrial and commercial growth in- tegrated with the construction and maintenance of through and local traffic routes.
CASTLE PEAK
Castle Peak Bay, which lies on the southern coast of the New Territories, is relatively shallow and a large area near its head is exposed at low tide. In recent years the bay has grown in importance as a fishing port with some 1,500 boats based there. The 1964 population of the bay was assessed at about 39,000 persons.
The scheme for Castle Peak calls for the development of an area of 1,853 acres, including the reclamation of 407 acres of the Castle Peak Bay, the building up of low- lying land around the bay, the terracing of adjacent hills and slopes, and the provision of a typhoon anchorage and cargo handling facilities.
Of the total area to be developed, 594 acres have been allocated for residential purposes. As at Sha Tin the planners recommend that certain sites be selected for the provision of comprehensively designed local commer- cial centres.
A central area of about 32 acres is located at the focal point of the proposed town. It is planned as an organic expansion of the existing village and shops at Tuen Mun San Hui, which lies to the north of the ad- joining residential area.
An area of 354 acres is allocated for industrial uses. It is divided into two major groups, supported by a sub- sidiary group to the north-west. The primary group is located to the west of the river opposite Tuen Mun San Hui.
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The secondary group is located near Sam Shing Hui adjacent to the proposed cargo handling area. This area is provided to accommodate those industries which re- quire ready access to sea transportation for their raw materials and manufactured goods.
About 217 acres within the proposed development area are earmarked for district open space. There will be two major open spaces, one on either side of the river channel designed to serve their respective residential zones,
Far East Architect & Builder May, 1966