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FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 1974
DEPUTY COLONIAL SECRETARY TOURS WESTERN ******
THE DEPUTY COLONIAL SECRETARY, MR. MICHAEL CLINTON, SPENT A BUSY AFTERNOON TODAY VISITING THE SHEUNG WAN AND WESTERN DISTRICTS ON HONG KONG ISLAND TO SEE FOR HIMSELF THE PROBLEMS POSED BY FRUIT LAANS+, THE TRAFFIC CONDITIONS AND VARIOUS PUBLIC WORKS DEVELOPMENTS IN THE AREAS.
ACCOMPANIED BY THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF HOME AFFAIRS, MR. DAVIO WONG, AND THE WESTERN CITY DISTRICT OFFICER, MR. ANTHONY WOO, THE DEPUTY COLONIAL SECRETARY FIRST INSPECTED CONDITIONS IN SHEUNG WAN STROLLING AMONG THE FRUIT +LAANS+ CONCENTRATED IN ON TAI, NEW MARKET AND TUNG LOI STREETS.
MR. CLINTON WAS INFORMED THAT THE SITE NOW OCCUPIED BY THESE LAANS HAS DEEN EARMARKED AS A WORK AREA FOR THE FUTURE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY. NEGOTIATIONS ARE UNDERVAY FOR THE REPROVISIONING OF THESE LAANS TO AN AREA IN KENNEDY TOUN WHERE THERE WILL BE WATER FRONTAGE TO FACILITATE LOADING AND UNLOADING.
HE ALSO SAW TRAFFIC CONDITIONS ALONG THE NEARBY WATERFRONT AND THE PROGRESS MADE SO FAR IN THE CENTRAL RECLAMATION STAGE V WHICH IS SCHEDULED FOR COMPLETION BY AUGUST NEXT YEAR.
THE PARTY NEXT PROCEEDED ON FOOT TO HOLLYWOOD ROAD, UPPER LASCAR ROW, LOWER LASCAR ROW, TUNG STREET AND SAI STREET. THESE ARE PART OF THE AREAS INCLUDED IN THE URBAN RENEWAL PILOT SCHEME. THE WHOLE SCHEME COVERS 13 ACRES AFFECTING SOME 13,000 PEOPLE.
WHILE IN THE AREA,. MR. CLINTON DROPPED INTO A DOMESTIC FLAT ON THE 1ST FLOOR OF NO. 46 LOWER LASCAR ROW TO CHAT WITH THE TENANTS SO AS TO GET A GENERAL PICTURE OF THEIR LIVING STANDARDS.
HIS NEXT STOP WAS AT KENNEDY TOWN NEW PRAYA. THERE, THE DEPUTY COLONIAL SECRETARY WAS TOLD. OF THE GREAT PRESSURE
· CAUSED BY THE ON-STREET LOADING AND UNLOADING, ACTIVITIES ON THE ALREADY CONGESTED ROADS NEARBY. A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF THE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, FISH AND CRUSTACEA IMPORTED BY SEA ARE UNLOADED AT THE WATERFRONT AT THE KENNEDY TOWN NEW PRAYA AND THEN MARKETED BY THE WHOLESALERS IN THE KENNEDY TOWN WHOLESALE MARKET.
MR. CLINTON WAS TOLD THAT PLANS ARE CURRENTLY IN HAND TO CONSTRUCT A NEW MARKET FOR IMPORTED FRUIT, VEGETABLES, POULTRY AND FISH ON THE RECLAIMED LAND ON THE KENNEDY TOWN RECLAMATION STAGE 11.
LATER, THE