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LAND, PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES
Services and Building Development Departments - in collaboration with other government departments such as Lands and Housing.
During these 10 years, the population in the New Territories has more than doubled, to 1.6 million people, and a further one million people are scheduled to move to the seven new towns and rural townships by the end of the decade. In line with this population growth, just as dramatic improvements have taken place in the facilities essential to the success of the new towns.
Tsuen Wan
The present new town development plan covers an area of 2670 hectares. When development is completed in 1993, the town, with a population of 680 000 in 1983, is expected to provide job opportunities for some 450 000 workers and housing for nearly one million people.
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With the exception of a few isolated sites, building development has been completed on the Tsuen Wan reclamation scheme. Reclamation work at Kwai Chung was completed in 1975 and the principal area from which fill material was taken has now been developed for public housing. The completion of Tsing Yi Bridge in 1974 marked the beginning of major development on Tsing Yi Island and its potential was further increased when a number of large platforms were formed during the process of providing fill for the container port. Tsing Yi town centre will eventually form the focal point for the island's proposed population of 220 000 and housing estates, such as Cheung Ching, are sub- stantially complete.
While it is expected that 70 per cent of the completed new town's population will be accommodated in public housing, there is also considerable private sector activity. For example, 20 000 people will be housed above the Mass Transit Railway station by 1984.
Major developments in hand but not yet completed include the Tsuen Wan Bypass and further reclamation of Tsuen Wan Bay which incorporates a new bus terminus, car park and ferry pier.
The Mass Transit Railway Tsuen Wan Extension, completed in 1982, provided a much needed link with Kowloon and Hong Kong Island. The construction of the line and of other formation works necessitated the resiting of affected existing villages by the government and this has largely been completed. Transport continues to be a matter of prime interest to the new town and projects already in the design stage include the Tsuen Wan to Sha Tin Route 5 Highway and the Tsing Yi North Bridge.
Expansion of the Kwai Chung Container Port, already the third busiest in the world, is in hand to meet the predicted growth in container trade. The rezoning of certain industrial sites for housing is already under way and plans have been drawn up to develop an industrial site adjacent to the waterfront as a private residential estate.
In contrast, improvement and expansion plans are being drawn up for existing villages, many of which lie in the green belt area of the foothills, to the north of Tsuen Wan. Proposals to reduce pollution and conserve many of the natural features should ensure the future of this area as a valuable recreational facility within easy reach of the new town. An extensive programme of additional park and recreational facilities is under way to meet the needs of an expanding population. For the coming years, more swimming pools, games halls and squash courts are planned, together with the reconstruction of Yeung Uk Road Sportsground as a modern stadium.
About 1 300 hectares of serviced development land already exist within the new town, and another 600 hectares will be available soon. More than 20 per cent of this will be used