10
members of this Council, will be published very shortly, and shows
that the Government will be producing some 2,900 gross hectares of land up
to 1981/82. Of this, some 613 will be for sale to industry and some
580 for private residential and commercial purposes. In addition to
meeting the needs of planned urban development, this will provide an average
of 250 gross hectares a year for private, including industrial development.
This is more than we have achieved over a comparable period before, and
if wisely used should be adequate to Hong Kong's immediate needs.
28.
But the report is less hopeful about land production on the main-
land beyond 1982.. Some 770 hectares in 5 areas could be considered,"
but some would be expensive to develop and are inconveniently situated.
The Special Committee therefore feel that the Government should bring
forward its plans for the development of Lantau.
29.
On the advice of Executive Council new intensive and conclusive
investigations both by consulting engineers and the PWD will therefore start
very shortly both on a fixed road crossing to Lantau and on the development
potential of the North shore of the island.
30.
Pending the review of options I have decided to re-appoint the Special
Committee with new terms of reference. The outcome of its studies will
supply the pattern for land production from 1982 onwards.
Industrial Estates
31.
The figure I gave of 613 gross hectares for land for industry up
tc 1981/82 included 169 gross hectares for the industrial estates at Taipo
and Yuen Long. Since this land will be let at cost of formation it is most
important that it should be allotted only to projects which will diversify
the industrial base and introduce higher levels of technology. Clearly the
strictest criteria should be applied, as they have been to the policy of
selling land outside the estates on a restricted user bsis, which itself
has made a considerable contribution to the introduction of new industry.
/Advisory.