Land, Public Works and Utilities | 239
The new town has a well-established external transport network comprising the Kowloon-Canton Railway, Lion Rock Tunnel, Tai Po Road, Tolo Highway, Sai Sha Road, Shing Mun Tunnel and Tate's Cairn Tunnel. Recently, Trunk Road T7, connecting the Ma On Shan Road and Sai Sha Road bypassing the busy Ma On Shan Town Centre, was completed in August 2004, further improving the transport network to support the continual development of the new town. The Sha Tin Heights Tunnel linking Sha Tin to Cheung Sha Wan and the Road T3, which will connect the Sha Tin Heights. Tunnel to the Sha Tin New Town, are under construction for completion in 2007.
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 478 800, and this is forecast to rise to about 472 600 in 2013.
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 277 300. The new town, covering about 1 114 hectares, is well developed with the major infrastructure in place.
Pak Shek Kok development covering an area of 118 hectares north of the Chinese University of Hong Kong has been planned to include a Science Park, housing, strategic recreation and tertiary education expansion. Reclamation and construction of the Science Park Phase I have been completed. Construction of Science Park Phase II is scheduled for completion in 2007.
Fanling and Sheung Shui
Fanling and Sheung Shui are former traditional market towns which now have a population of about 246 100. The total development area is about 623 hectares. The new town's population is expected to reach around 263 600 in 2013.
The river training works at the River Indus Basin to relieve the risk of flooding in the Fanling and Sheung Shui areas has been completed.
Yuen Long
Yuen Long new town has a current population of about 137 800 and this is expected to grow to around 163 400 by 2013. It covers a development area of about 1 170 hectares.
Development in the new town is being extended southward and along the Tuen Mun-Yuen Long Corridor. Infrastructure works for the southern extension area commenced in end-2002 for completion in 2006.