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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1977 ..
GOVERNMENT TO PRODUCE 2,900 HECTARES OF LAND
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THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE PRODUCING SOME 2,900 GROSS HECTARES OF LAND UP TO 1981/82 +IN VIEW OF THE LONG TERM DESIRABILITY OF BROADENING OUR INDUSTRIAL BASE, THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
QUOTING FROM THE REPORT OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON LAND PRODUCTION. TO BE PUBLISHED VERY SHORTLY. THE GOVERNOR SAID THAT OF THE TOTAL LAND TO BE PRODUCED, SOME 613 HECTARES WOULD BE FOR SALE TO INDUSTRY AND SOME 580 FOR PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL PURPOSES.
+THIS WILL PROVIDE,+ SIR MURRAY SAID, +AN AVERAGE OF 250 GROSS HECTARES A YEAR FOR PRIVATE, INCLUDING INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT+ IN ADDITION TO MEETING THE NEEDS OF PLANNED URBAN DEVELOPMENT.
THIS, IS MORE THAN WE HAVE ACHIEVED OVER A COMPARABLE PERIOD BEFORE, AND IF WISELY USED, SHOULD BE ADEQUATE TO HONG KONG'S IMMEDIATE NEEDS, HE POINTED OUT.
THE REPORT HOWEVER IS LESS HOPEFUL ABOUT LAND PRODUCTION ON THE MAINLAND BEYOND 1982. SOME 773 HECTARES IN FIVE AREAS COULD BE CONSIDERED, BUT SOME WOULD BE EXPENSIVE TO DEVELOP AND ARE INCONVENIENTLY SITUATED. THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE HAD THEREFORE FELT THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD BRING FORWARD ITS PLANS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF LANTAU.
+ON THE ADVICE OF EXECUTIVE COUNCIL,+ SIR MURRAY SAID, +NEW INTENSIVE AND CONCLUSIVE INVESTIGATIONS BY CONSULTING ENGINEERS AND THE PWD WILL THEREFORE START VERY SHORTLY BOTH ON A FIXED ROAD CROSSING TO LANTAU AND ON THE DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL OF THE NORTH SHORE OF THE ISLAND.+
HE ALSO SAID THAT PENDING THE REVIEW OF OPTIONS, HE HAD DECIDED TO REAPPOINT THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE WITH NEW TERMS OF REFERENCE.
+THE OUTCOME OF ITS STUDIES MILL SUPPLY THE PATTERN FOR LAND PRODUCTION FROM 1982 ONWARDS, HE SAID.
REFERRING TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF INDUSTRIAL ESTATES, SIR MURRAY SAID THAT 162 CROSS HECTARES OF 613 GROSS HECTARES FOR LAND FOR INDUSTRY UP TO 1981/62 MOULD BE SET APART FOR THE INDUSTRIAL ESTATES AT TAI PO AND YUEN LONG.
+ IT IS MOST IMPORTANT,+ HE ADDED, +THE LAND SHOULD BE ALLOTTED ONLY TO PROJECTS WHICH WILL DIVERSIFY THE INDUSTRIAL BASE AND INTRODUCE HIGHER LEVELS OF TECHNOLOGY, SINCE THE LAND WOULD BE LET AT COST OF FORMATION.
/AND,