THE GOVERNMENT IS ASSESSING THE VIABILITY OF A CONSULTANCY STUDY WHICH RECOMMENDS BUILDING AN EXHIBITION CENTRE IN WANCHAI. THE COMPLEX WILL INCLUDE EXHIBITION HALLS, CONFERENCE CENTRE, A HOTEL AND OFFICE ACCOMMODATION. INTEREST OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR
IN PARTICIPATING IN THE PROJECT IS ALSO BEING EXPLORED.
INFRA-STRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT:
THE LONG-TERM DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY SHOULD ACCOMMODATE THE NEEDS OF A SEVEN MILLION POPULATION BY THE TURN OF THE CENTURY AND THE NEEDS OF A WORKFORCE OF ABOUT 3.4 MILLION. TO THIS END, WORK
HAS BEEN PROCEEDING STEADILY FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS
WITH SUB-REGIONAL STUDIES OF THE NORTHWEST NEW TERRITORIES, THE HARBOUR AREA, LANTAU AND JUNK BAY. RESULTS OF THESE STUDIES WILL BE MADE PUBLIC OVER THE COMING MONTHS AND DECISIONS ARE EXPECTED BY THE MIDDLE OF NEXT YEAR. ON TRANSPORT, FEASIBILITY STUDIES ARE UNDERWAY OF A NEW ROAD THROUGH TAI MO SHAN LINKING THE NORTHWEST N.T. WITH TSUEN WAN AND OF A NEW ROAD THROUGH LION ROCK
OR MA ON SHAN LINKING THE NORTHEAST N.T. WITH KOWLOON. ALTHOUGH A BRIDGE AT LE YUE MUN HAS BEEN FOUND TO BE IMPRACTICABLE FOR
TECHNICAL REASONS, OTHER CROSSING OPTIONS ARE BEING INVESTIGATED.
THESE INCLUDE BORED OR SUBMERGED TUNNELS AT LEI YUE MUN BETWEEN
TAM KOO SHING AND CHA KWO LING, OR ALONGSIDE THE EXISTING CROSS- HARBOUR TUNNEL.
ON LAND SUPPLY, THE GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE AVAILABLE AS MUCH LAND AS IS REQUIRED FOR GENUINE DEVELOPMENT WITH A YIELD
OF 593 HECTARES FOR THIS FINANCIAL YEAR. THE GOVERNMENT HAS NOT
HAD AND DOES NOT HAVE A HIGH LAND PRICE' POLICY.
ON PUBLIC UTILITIES, THE CHINA GAS IS SEEKING A GRANT OF LAND TO BUILD A SECOND PRODUCTION PLANT. THE COST OF ELECTRICITY IN HK
IS AMONG THE LOWEST IN ASHA AND IT IS STILL FALLING IN REAL TERMS
AS A RESULT OF THE INTRODUCTION OF COAL-FIRED UNITS. THE GOVERNMENT
IS STUDYING A REPORT ON THE FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF BUYING
ELECTRICHTY FROM THE GUANGDONG N-PLANT. THE REPORT RAISES A
NUMBER OF IMPORTANT ISSUES WHICH WILL NEED TO BE DISCUSSED WITH
THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES. IF THESE DISCUSSIONS PROVE SATISFACTORY,
IT OUGHT TO BE POSSIBLE TO NEGOTIATE AN OFF-TAKE AGREEMENT WHICH
WILL BE OF BENEFIT TO ALL CONCERNED.
ON PORT FACILITIES, KWAN CHUNG CONTAINER TERMINAL IS TO UNDERGO AN EXPANSION PROGRAMME. THE RECLAMATION OF THE KWA CHUNG CREEK
IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN 1987 AND SHOULD INCREASE THE
CAPACITY OF THE EXISTING FIVE TERMINALS BY ABOUT 57 PER CENT.
NEGOTIATIONS ARE EXPECTED TO COMMENCE SHORTLY FOR THE CONSTRUCTION
OF A SIXTH TERMINAL TO BE COMPLETED IN THE LATE 1980'S. AS FOR AIR
SERVICES, THE KA TAK AIRPORT TERMINAL WILL BE EXPANDED TO COPE
WITHE THE INCREASING AIRPORT PASSENGER TRAFFIC WHICH IS FORECAST
TO GROW FROM 10 MILLION PASSENGERS IN 1984 TO ABOUT 15 MILLION
IN 1990. WE CANNOT, AND INDEED NEED NOT ON PRESENT TRAFFIC ESTIMATES, PROCEED WITH OUR PLANS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW AIRPORT.
SOCIAL.