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NEW TOWNS
first of them - Fo Tan, on the western side of the Kowloon-Canton Railway line a substantial number of sites have already been developed, serviced and sold. The development of a big oil storage depot at Fo Tan has greatly facilitated China's supply of oil to Hong Kong. The two other industrial zones will be at Siu Lek Yuen and Pak Shek.
In October, 1978, the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club (RHKJC) opened Hong Kong's second racecourse at Sha Tin, on reclaimed land adjoining the Shing Mun River. Costing an estimated $550 million and covering 100 hectares, the racecourse has a 213 metre-long grandstand which can accommodate 30,000 people. Within the track, the RHKJC has built a public park with pools, shrubs and curving paths. The RHKJC and the government are also jointly developing the Jubilee Sports Centre which will provide training and coaching facilities for sportsmen and sportswomen on an international level.
The Smaller Centres
Beside the three new towns, three market centres are being greatly expanded and provided with modern buildings and facilities to accommodate approximately 500,000 people. The three market towns are Tai Po, Fanling-Sheung Shui-Shek Wu Hui, and Yuen Long.
The market towns were once important centres of Hong Kong life, but their growth in recent years has been overshadowed by the development of Kowloon and Hong Kong Island. Now they are re-emerging as vital industrial and trade centres. At Tai Po and Yuen Long the first two industrial estates in Hong Kong are being developed and high technology industry is receiving priority.
Tai Po has a planned population of 220,000 and much of the new land for develop- ment is being reclaimed from the sea. The first stage has been the reclamation of 45 hectares of land on which the construction of a public housing estate, which will accommodate 30,000 people, is proceeding. Ultimately 103,500 people will live in public housing and Home Ownership Scheme flats, another 90,000 will make their homes in private residential buildings, while the remainder will live in villages or village-style housing.
Tai Po will still be a farming centre where the produce from surrounding villages is marketed, but there is to be more stress on industry and commerce. New amenities being built include hospitals, schools, parks and recreation areas, a system of cycle- tracks, a stadium and a swimming pool complex.
Some eight kilometres inland from Tai Po, the neighbouring towns of Fanling, Sheung Shui and Shek Wu Hui are being developed for a combined population of 170,000; the present population is 43,000. Most of the new residents will be accom- modated at Sheung Shui where two public housing estates have been planned, and at Fanling where another public housing estate is to be built. Sites are being prepared for private residential development and there also will be land for village-type housing, light industries and an estate under the Home Ownership Scheme.
A large open space for recreation separates the areas zoned for development in Sheung Shui and Fanling. Both centres are served by the Kowloon-Canton Railway and the present railway stations are to be at the heart of the new communities.