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LAND, PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES
Following the government's decision to proceed with development of both tubes of the Junk Bay Tunnel, the approved Outline Development Plan for Junk Bay New Town Phase I, which allowed for a population of 223 000, has been revised to make provision for an expanded development area with a total population of 325 000.
Development is being planned around three main districts with populations of 125 000, 90 000 and 110 000 each. The new town will be served by a centrally located and easily accessible major commercial complex which will also include open space, community facilities and a transport interchange. The principal external access linking Junk Bay with East Kowloon will be the twin-tubed Junk Bay Road Tunnel, work on which began in late 1986. The tunnel is supplemented by the improved Po Lam Road, also linking with East Kowloon, which serves as the initial external road link prior to the opening of the road tunnel in 1990.
The possible future extension of the Mass Transit Railway from Kwun Tong is being studied, and the revised Outline Development Plan makes provision for such an extension to enter Junk Bay New Town from the South.
Outside the new town, plans for Sai Kung District have given priority to the recreational potential and to the containment of new urban development in selected areas. The approved Outline Development Plan for Sai Kung Town and its immediate hinterland has a design population capacity of around 40 000.
Islands District
In recent years, the outlying islands have taken on an increasingly important role in catering for the recreational needs of the people of Hong Kong.
As part of the Islands Development Programme, projects continued during the year to provide for existing and future growth in population, to upgrade living standards and to improve general facilities for the increasing number of visitors to the islands. Although development remains generally low-rise and rural in character, the programme of works large and diverse, concentrating mainly on the population centres of Mui Wo and Tai O on Lantau, and on Cheung Chau and Peng Chau.
Work on the construction of a new rural public housing estate at Mui Wo for about 1 700 people started in early 1986 to add to the existing rural public housing estates at Tai O and on Cheung Chau. Planning started for the development of more rural public housing estates and other facilities, including ferry piers, schools, market buildings, recreational facilities, sewage treatment plants and abattoirs.
Urban Renewal
To facilitate the process of urban renewal in areas where satisfactory redevelopment is inhibited by factors such as multiple ownership of properties, small size of the site or obsolescent layout, the government has decided that a Land Development Corporation (LDC) should be established. Its main task will be to negotiate the surrender of existing properties and to oversee comprehensive redevelopment of the area. A provisional Board of the LDC was appointed in August. The Town Planning Office of the Buildings and Lands Department has been carrying out studies to identify areas which would be suitable for redevelopment in this way.
Acquisition of land zoned for open space and government, institution and community uses in the areas covered by the town plans for Western, Wan Chai and Yau Ma Tei continued to be given impetus in 1986 with efforts being concentrated in assembly project