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THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 1975
GO AHEAD GIVEN FOR TAI PO INDUSTRIAL ESTATE
THE GOVERNMENT HAS DECIDED TO PROCEED WITH THE FIRST STAGE OF AN INDUSTRIAL ESTATE AT TAI PO,
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY THAT THE ESTATE WAS PLANNED TO DE 136 ACRES, COMPLETE WITH ALL THE NECESSARY SERVICES INCLUDING A SEUAGE TREATMENT PLANT. IT WOULD DE POSSIBLE TO EXTEND THE AREA TO OVER 200 ACRES EVENTUALLY,
THE FIRST STAGE WOULD PROVIDE ACOUT SO ACRES AND THE NECESSARY ROADS, WATER SUPPLIES AND FULL SEWAGE TREATMENT, HE SAID, AND WOULD COST ADOUT $60 MILLION WHICH WILL DE MADE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT LOAN FUND. WORK ON THE SITE WOULD BEGIN LATER THIS YEAR.
THIS EARLY START REFLECTS THE HIGH PRIORITY THAT THE GOVERNMENT ATTACHES TO THIS PROJECT. THE FIRST SITES 'WILL BE SOLD OR LET NEXT YEAR FOR OCCUPATION EARLY IN 1977.
IN ITS INITIAL STAGES THE WORKS WOULD DE HANDLED DY GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS IN THE NORMAL WAY. THE QUESTION OF WHETHER A STATUTORY INDUSTRIAL ESTATES CORPORATION SHOULD. BE SET UP TO OWN AND MANAGE THE ESTATES IS STILL UNDER CONSIDERATION, SAID THE SPOKESMAN, <DUT AN EARLY DECISION IS NOT EXPECTED.+
THE BASIC PURPOSE OF THE INDUSTRIAL ESTATE IS TO PROVIDE SUBSTANTIAL AREAS OF LAND FOR INDUSTRIES THAT CANNOT OPERATE IN MULTI-STORE FLATTED FACTORIES, AT A PRICE THAT REFLECTS THE COST TO THE GOVERNMENT OF PROVIDING THE FORMED AND SERVICED LAND.
THE INDUSTRIES EXPECTED TO BE ESTABLISHED IN THE ESTATE WILL TEND TO BE HEAVIER, AND MORE CAPITAL-INTENSIVE, THAN MOST OF THOSE NOW OPERATING IN HONG KONG, BUT THEY WILL BE OF DIRECT BENEFIT TO THE ECONOMY GENERALLY AND WILL PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR MANY OF HONG KONG'S EXISTING LIGHT INDUSTRIES.
SITES FOR FURTHER INDUSTRIAL ESTATES HAVE BEEN PINPOINTED AT YUEN LONG AND AT JUNK DAY.
INVESTIGATIONS ARE BEING CONDUCTED IN BOTH THESE AREAS IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO TAKE DECISIONS ON THE PROVISION OF FURTHER INDUSTRIAL ESTATES, IF THE DEMAND FOR SITES AT TAI PO PROVES STRONG ENOUGH.
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