PAYACO
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VISIT TO HONG KONG BY LORD GLENARTHUR, 16-19 SEPTEMBER
BACKGROUND BRIEF D: MAJOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
1.
The current new town development programmes will largely have
been completed by the early 1990's. The Hong Kong Government's main strategic planning task in recent years has been to identify additional development opportunities for the period thereafter; and to select from them the projects which best meet expected future demand for housing and for major infrastructure needed for Hong Kong's continued economic growth into the next century.
2.
The recommended medium-term development strategy, whether it is assumed that the airport remains at Kai Tak or is relocated to
Chap Lap Kok, is that major future developments should be
concentrated on reclamations around the harbour. These include
proposed reclamations at Aldrich Bay, Central/Wanchai and Kennedy
Town on Hong Kong Island, and at Hung Hom and West Kowloon on the
mainland. Planning and engineering feasibility studies of all these areas, including a hydraulic and water quality study of the harbour,
are now being undertaken to assess their viability.
3.
The reclamations will be planned in part to overcome the problems of congestion and shortage of open space and community facilities in the adjacent older parts of the urban area (Shau Kei
Wan, Western District, Yau Ma Tei, Sham Shui Po); and in part for
key infrastructure projects needed to support Hong Kong's continued role as an entrepot and an industrial, trading and financial centre. A major part of the Hung Hom Bay reclamation is being planned for
expansion of the railway terminal to cope with increasing rail freight between Hong Kong and China; parts of the Central and Wanchai reclamation will be reserved for expansion of the Central business district; and two new container terminals are being built or to be built at Kwai Chung South, next to the proposed West
Kowloon reclamation.
4.
A series of further Hong Kong Government studies related to strategic and key infrastructure planning are in hand or about to
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