CONFIDENTIAL
5.5.4
The size of major growth which could reasonably be supported by an airport and its ripple effects cannot be determined without a detailed study but it is clear that a more certain future could be attached major growth strategy that was linked to airport development.
to a
THE CURRENT PROPOSALS : Definition of the preferred location for major growth involved two stages. The first was the exploration of possibilities throughout the study which led to the so-called "area of search" in which the major growth was to be located. This encompassed
i)
ii)
The Tuen Mun-Yuen Long corridor extending out to Au Tau.
The Tin Shui Wai fishponds.
iii) Crown foreshore in Deep Bay.
iv) The intervening areas between these three.
The strategy finally selected was for development at New Town densities at Tin Shiu Wai (Phase I) and out into Deep Bay. (Phase II)
5.5.5 These proposals are severely affected by the airport
proposals in Deep Bay. Phase II is geographically and environmentally in conflict with the airport and could not be built; Phase I (ie. the Tin Shui Wai site) as currently designed is affected by the 25 NEF contour in the north west; the extent of the area unsuitable for residential development would depend on the method of airport operation selected but as the
the area suitable only for noise intensitive uses increases so do the problems of designing a functionally efficient town, e.g. because of public transport loading problems, and the overall effect could well be to reduce the deve- lopment potential of the site. A preliminary estimate suggests that, in the worst case considered, the on-site population could be limited to 200,000 people though noise amelioration and careful land-use planning could well raise this figure to something approaching 300,000. It is clear, however, that if development in the NWNT to a population of 1.15 million is required, then alter- native locations must be considered.
CONFIDENTIAL
5-21