FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1975
AP LEI CHAU BRIDGE
X X X X
THE GOVERNMENT HAS DECIDED TO CALL TENDERS FOR BUILDING
A BRIDGE TO AP LEI CHAU IN EXCHANGE FOR A PIECE OF LAND ON THE ISLAND.
THE GOVERNOR 'IN COUNCIL HAS GIVEN THE GO-AHEAD FOR THE PROPOSAL MITCH VILL MEAN MORE RAPID DEVELOPMENT OF AP LEI CHAU.
UNDER THE PLAN, AN AREA OF ABOUT 20 ACRES OF LAND ON THE NORTHERN PART OF THE ISLAND WOULD DE GRANTED TO A PRIVATE DEVELOPER IN RETURN FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND HANDING OVER TO THE GOVERNMENT OF A DRIDGE AND CERTAIN ROADS AND THE PAYMENT OF AN APPROPRIATE PREMIUM.
INITIALLY THE BRIDGE WOULD DE OF TWO LANES WITH FOOT-PATHS ON EITHER SIDE. IT WOULD HAVE A SPAN OF 300 FEET OVER THE MAIN CHANNEL WITH A CLEARANCE OF 50 FEET TO ENABLE BOATS TO SAIL DENEATH WITH NO DIFFICULTY. THE DRIDGE WOULD HAVE TO DE DESIGNED BY THE DEVELOPER AND APPROVED BY THE DIRECTOR CF PUBLIC WORKS.
THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, MR. GRAHAM BARNES, SAID TODAY THAT THE EXCHANGE LAND WOULD BE USED FOR A PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL ESTATE.
THE DEVELOPMENT ENVISAGED IS THE CONSTRUCTION OF AN ESTATE FOR ABOUT 28,000 PEOPLE AT A RESIDENTIAL DENSITY NOT EXCEEDING 1,000 PEOPLE PER ACRE. THERE WOULD BE FULL PROVISION FOR A COMPLETE RANGE OF COMMUNITY FACILITIES, INCLUDING PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS, OPEN SPACES, SHOPPING FACILITIES AND MARKETS.
IT IS LIKELY THAT THE RESIDENTIAL ACCOMMODATION WOULD BE MAINLY IN THE FORM OF SMALL FLATS OF 400 TO 500 SQUARE FEET AND WHICH WOULD BE OCCUPIED BY FAMILIES OF FOUR TO FIVE PEOPLE.
MR. BARNES SAID THE PROVISION OF A BRIDGE AND SERVICES TO AP LEI CHAU WOULD ALLOW THE FULL DEVELOPMENT OF THE COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL AREAS ON THE ISLAND TO PROCEED IN THE FUTURE AND WOULD RESULT IN A USEFUL ADDITION TO THE OVERALL HOUSING POSITION.
HE ADDED THAT THE REAL ESTATE DEVELOPERS' ASSOCIATION AND OTHER PRIVATE DEVELOPERS HAD DEEN SOUNDED OUT ON THE EXCHANGE PROPOSAL AND A GREAT DEAL OF INTEREST HAD DEEN EXPRESSED.
+IN FACT, MR. BARNES SAID, IF A TENDER IS LET FOR THE GRANT OF THE LAND, WE EXPECT THAT A REASONABLE NUMBER OF CFFERS WILL BE RECEIVED.+
NOW THAT APPROVAL HAS BEEN GIVEN TO THE PROPOSAL, DETAILED CONDITIONS OF THE TENDER WILL BE WORKED OUT AND SENT TO LOCAL DEVELOPERS FOR COMMENTS.
/HR. BARNES SAID