29
Wednesday, October 16, 1974
accepts.
The first steps along the path have now been taken
with the provision of land on special terms to two new
industries in Tsing I. In the long term I believe the
eventual answer is, as it were, to expand the harbour westwards.
by developing -the north shore of Lantau 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 180s. For
the immediate future more rapid action is necessary, and your
Government believes that the right answer is to establish
industrial estates along the lines of those found so successful
elsewhere. With this in mind a feasibility study has been
commissioned for Junk Bay, and similar studies are far
advanced of much easier sites at Taipo and Yuen Long.
projects will be given high priority. The amount of land planned
for ordinary industrial development in the New Towns is also
being reconsidered. I think it essential 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.
Building
These
***
Clearly the Government has an obligation to ensure that
new building conforms 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