LAND, PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES
new town has Hong Kong's container terminals in its midst in Kwai Chung Area. In addition, the Container Terminal 9 is under construction in southeast Tsing Yi.
Major highway projects are being constructed or planned to further extend and reinforce the main road network. Construction is proceeding on part of the rationalised Route 8 (previously part of Route 9) between Tsing Yi and Cheung Sha Wan, and the section of Route 5 between Shek Wai Kok and Chai Wan Kok.
Sha Tin
Sha Tin new town embraces the areas of Sha Tin and Ma On Shan. It covers a total development area of about 2 000 hectares and is already home to about 641 000 people.
Construction work is under way on the Sha Tin Heights Tunnel and Approaches, which now form part of the rationalised Route 8 (and were previously part of Route 9) linking Sha Tin to Cheung Sha Wan, and on the Road T3, which will connect with the Sha Tin Heights Tunnel. Both projects will be completed in 2007.
The construction of Trunk Road T7, which will bypass the Ma On Shan Town Centre and improve traffic conditions there, is due for completion in mid-2004.
Tuen Mun
Tuen Mun new town, in the western New Territories, is developed mainly on land reclaimed from Castle Peak Bay and on platforms built in the valley between Castle Peak and the Tai Lam Hills. It covers a total development area of about 1900 hectares. The new town's current population is about 485 000, and this is forecast to rise to about 535 000 in 2012.
In south-west Tuen Mun, the River Trade Terminal operates as a consolidation point for containers and bulk cargoes shipped between Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta ports. The reclamation for special industrial use has been completed. To cope with the increasing traffic demand in association with these developments, Lung Fu Road (Foothills Bypass) has been opened to traffic.
Tai Po
Tai Po has grown from a small market town into a new town with a population of around 282 000. The new town, covering about 1 270 hectares, is well developed with the major infrastructure in place.
The Pak Shek Kok Development includes the development of a Science Park and residential and recreation uses. The advance engineering infrastructure works for the development have been substantially completed to facilitate the inauguration of the initial phase of the Science Park. The Stage I works for the remaining infrastructure continued during the year and are scheduled for completion in early 2005 whereas the Stage 2 works are programmed to commence in early 2004 for completion in end-2006 to tie in with the Science Park's development programme.
Fanling and Sheung Shui
Fanling and Sheung Shui are former traditional market towns which now have a population of about 246 000. The total development area is about 780 hectares. The new town's population is expected to reach around 269 000 in 2012.
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