TUESDAY, MARCH 16, 1976
+THE CYCLE PATHS WILL ALSO SERVE AS A COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM, AND WE EXPECT THE BICYCLE TO BECOME A MAJOR FORM OF SAFE, POLLUTION-FREE TRANSPORT IN THE NEW TOWN.
MR. DON SAID THAT MANY OF THE SHA TIN VALLEY'S TREE-COVERED RIDGES AND NATURAL SKYLINES WOULD BE RETAINED UNDER THE NEW TOWN PLAN. IN OTHER AREAS AFFECTED BY DEVELOPMENT WORKS, THERE WILL BE A MAJOR PROGRAMME OF TREE AND SHRUB PLANTING AND OF LANDSCAPING GENERALLY TO IMPROVE THE LIVING ENVIRONMENT OF THE RESIDENTS,+ HE SAID.
CERTAIN AREAS AROUND THE VALLEY'S PERIMETER HAD BEEN DESIGNATED AS 'GREEN BELT' AND SET ASIDE FOR HIKING, PICNICKING AND GENERAL RECREATION.
A TOTAL OF 113 HECTARES (280 ACRES) OF VERDANT SLOPE SOUTH OF LION ROCK TUNNEL WOULD BE INCORPORATED IN THE ADJOINING LION ROCK COUNTRY PARK.
MR. DON SAID THE P.W.D. PLANNERS HAD ALSO RESERVED 47 HECTARES (118 ACRES) OF LAND SURROUNDING THE NEW TOWN AS OPEN SPACE, TO PROVIDE PARKS, SPORTS GROUNDS, NATURAL RESERVES,. SWIMMING POOLS AND PICNIC AREAS.
ONE OF THE MAJOR RECREATIONAL FEATURES OF THE NEW TOWN WOULD BE A GIANT SPORTS STADIUM CAPABLE OF HOLDING 28,000 SPECTATORS. THE STADIUM WOULD BE LOCATED NEAR THE SHA TIN WAI ROAD JUNCTION, EASILY ACCESSIBLE FROM KOWLOON AND AREAS NORTH OF SHA TIN.
+APART FROM THE MAIN RECREATIONAL AREAS, THERE WILL BE OPEN SPACE TO SERVE EACH HOUSING ESTATE IN THE NEW TOWN AND EACH ESTATE WILL HAVE ITS OWN PLAYGROUNDS,+ SAID MR. DON. +A TOTAL OF 14 HECTARES (35 ACRES) HAVE BEEN EXPRESSLY RESERVED FOR THIS PURPOSE.+
MR. DON SAID THAT IN ADDITION TO NORMAL OPEN SPACE, THE SHING MUN RIVER, WHICH WOULD FLOW THROUGH THE CENTRE OF THE NEW TOWN, ALSO PROVIDED GREAT POTENTIAL FOR RECREATIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
THE RIVER WOULD BE REALIGNED, DREDGED AND CLEANED, AND WOULD PROVIDE A PLEASANT VENUE FOR BOATING. THE RIVER'S BANKS WOULD BE TRANSFORMED INTO 10 HECTARES (25 ACRES) OF SCENIC PARKLANDS AND PROMENADES.
THE CALM WATERS OF SHA TIN HOI (TIDE COVE), TO THE WEST OF THE NEW TOWN, WOULD ALSO PROVIDE ANOTHER OUTLET FOR BOATING ENTHUSIASTS.
+AND WHEN THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB'S INTERNATIONAL CLASS RACE TRACK IN SHA TIN OPENS IN OCTOBER 1978, RACING ENTHUSIASTS WILL NO LONGER HAVE TO TRAVEL ALL THE WAY TO HONG KONG ISLAND FOR THIS POPULAR SPORT,+ HE SAID.
+THE EIGHT HECTARES (20 ACRES) OF PARKLANDS IN THE CENTRE OF THE RACE-COURSE WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC ON NON-RACE DAYS TO PROVIDE ANOTHER PLEASANT RECREATIONAL OUTLET FOR THE NEW TOWN'S RESIDENTS.+
13.