WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1974.
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INDUSTRIAL ESTATES PLANNED
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THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO SET UP INDUSTRIAL ESTATES IN HONG KONG TO HELP MEET THE RISING DEMAND FOR MORE LAND FOR INDUSTRY IN THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE.
DISCLOSING THIS TODAY, THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, SAID A FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR SUCH A VENTURE IN JUNK BAY HAD BEEN COMMISSIONED AND SIMILAR STUDIES WERE ALREADY FAR ADVANCED FOR MUCH EASIER SITES AT TAIPO AND YUEN LONG.
+THESE PROJECTS,+ HE TOLD COUNCIL, +WILL BE GIVEN HIGH PRIORITY.+
SIR MURRAY ALSO REVEALED THAT THE AMOUNT OF LAND PLANNED FOR ORDINARY INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE NEW TOWNS WAS ALSO BEING RECONSIDERED.
+I THINK IT ESSENTIAL,+ HE SAID, +THAT IN THIS PERIOD WHEN THERE IS SLACK IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND ENGINEERING INDUSTRY WE SHOULD PRESS ON WITH WORK THAT WILL MAKE HONG KONG A MORE ATTRACTIVE PLACE FOR INVESTMENT WHEN THE UP-TURN IN THE FINANCIAL CLIMATE OF THE WORLD COMES AGAIN, AS COME IT WILL.+
THE GOVERNOR BELIEVED THAT IN THE LONG TERM THE EVENTUAL ANSWER TO PROVIDE MORE LAND FOR INDUSTRY, WAS TO EXPAND THE HARBOUR WESTWARDS BY DEVELOPING THE NORTH SHORE OF LANTAU ISLAND FOR INDUSTRY BY MEANS OF A BRIDGE FROM THE MAINLAND,
+BUT THOUGH PLANNING FOR THIS IS NOW ESSENTIAL, IT IS A VERY LARGE PROJECT AND IN THE NATURE OF THINGS ITS IMPACT COULD NOT BE FELT BEFORE THE 1980S.+
ON BUILDING DEVELOPMENT, SIR MURRAY RECOGNISED THE GOVERNMENT'S OBLIGATION TO ENSURE THAT NEW BUILDING CONFORMED WITH PLANNING, SAFETY AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS,
+BUT AT THIS TIME IT IS MORE THAN EVER NECESSARY THAT THESE CHECKS SHOULD NOT AVOIDABLY HOLD UP THE PUTTING IN HAND OF NEW WORK. I HAVE THEREFORE DIRECTED THAT FURTHER EFFORTS SHOULD BE MADE TO STREAMLINE PROCEDURES TO ENSURE SWIFTER TRANSACTION OF BUSINESS ABOUT LAND AND BUILDINGS.
+1 AM PARTICULARLY CONCERNED THAT PROJECTS WHICH ARE KNOWN TO HAVE READY SOURCES OF FINANCE AT THIS TIME AND WHOSE BACKERS ARE READY AND ANXIOUS TO PROCEED SHOULD BE SUBJECTED TO THE MINIMUM OF DELAY, AND I THINK THAT IF NECESSARY SPECIAL PROCEDURES TO ENSURE THIS MUST BE ADOPTED FOR THE TIME BEING,+ HE ADDED.
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