LAND, PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES
200
Reclamation is considered necessary for extending the railway and roads to Tsim Sha Tsui to improve the transport network in Kowloon. The study's recommendations are being reviewed.
New Towns and Rural Townships
The development of new towns in Hong Kong continued in 1997. At the end of 1997, about 2.7 million people were housed in the new towns in which a wide range of facilities like parks and open spaces, community and recreational facilities, schools, markets and shopping centres and convenient transport links were provided.
Engineering design and construction works on land formation and infrastructure of the development areas in new towns are overseen and co-ordinated by the TDD. Extensive landscaping and greening works are also carried out in conjunction with the development works. Under the afforestation programme associated with the new town and urban development, more than one million trees were planted in and around the new towns and Metroplan development areas over the year. About 100 hectares of land were afforested to reduce water runoff from hillsides.
With a view to meeting the flat production targets set by the administration, the TDD has already put in extra resources to expedite the delivery of housing sites and the provision of essential infrastructure within New Towns, Strategic Growth Areas and Major Development Areas. For long-term planning, studies are also being conducted to identify potential development areas and to consider the expansion of existing new towns.
Tsuen Wan
Tsuen Wan new town embraces the areas of Tsuen Wan, Kwai Chung and Tsing Yi Island. Its population is expected to stabilise at around 800 000 over the next 10 years.
Hong Kong's container terminals are mainly concentrated in the Kwai Chung area. Container Terminal 8 has been operational since July 1994. Container Terminal 9 will be located at South-East Tsing Yi.
Major highway projects will further extend and reinforce the main road network. The Duplicate Tsing Yi South Bridge is under construction for completion in early 1999. Construction of a flyover across Castle Peak Road connecting Tsuen King Circuit and Sha Tsui Road started in mid-1997.
Additional community facilities are under construction, including Kwai Tsing Civic Centre, which will provide a 900-seat auditorium and auxiliary facilities such as an exhibition hall, dance room and restaurant.
Sha Tin
Sha Tin new town is already home for about 590 000 people, approximately 69 per cent of whom live in public housing developments which comprise 15 public rental estates and 21 home ownership and private sector participation schemes. The new town will house about 625 000 people by 2001.
Since 1981, development works have been extended to Ma On Shan, involving a total development area of about 2 000 hectares. Work on the last section of the primary road link to Ma On Shan Town Centre is scheduled for completion in 1998.