MONDAY, APRIL 9, 1979
MAJOR PRIVATE HOUSING COMPLEX FOR 13,000 PEOPLE OVER
KCR DEPOT AT SHA TIN
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THE GOVERNMENT HAS GIVEN THE GO-AHEAD TO AN AMBITIOUS PROJECT TO DEVELOP A PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL COMPLEX FOR 13,000 PEOPLE OVER THE PROPOSED KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY DEPOT OVERLOOKING THE RACE COURSE IN SHA TIN NEW TOWN.
THE SITE IS TO BE SOLD IN AN UNUSUAL PACKAGE DEAL IN WHICH THE GOVERNMENT WILL BUILD A 2.7-HECTARE PODIUM FINANCED THROUGH INSTALMENT PAYMENTS BY THE COMPANY WHICH WINS THE DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS.
THE GOVERNMENT HAS PLACED A MINIMUM PRICE OF $168 MILLION ON THE COST OF DEVELOPING THE PODIUM INCLUDING THE BUILDING OF 825 METRES OF ACCESS ROADS AND INTENDS TO PUT THE WHOLE PROJECT OUT TO
TENDER ON MAY 4.
PLANS FOR THE SITE INCLUDE SEVEN RESIDENTIAL TOWER BLOCKS, EACH OF THEM RISING ABOUT 30 STOREYS, AND ANOTHER 16-STOREY BUILDING WHICH CAN BE DEVELOPED EITHER AS A HOTEL OR A COMMERCIAL-RESIDENTIAL COMPLEX.
WHEN COMPLETED TO CAREFUL GOVERNMENT SPECIFICATIONS, THE WHOLE PROJECT WILL BE SELF-CONTAINED WITH LANDSCAPING, COMMUNITY FACILITIES SUCH AS A KINDERGARTEN AND A VARIETY OF OTHER AMENITIES IN A LOCATION OFFICIALLY DESCRIBED TODAY (MONDAY) AS ONE OF THE BEST ON OFFER IN SHA TIN+.
THE SENIOR ESTATE SURVEYOR OF THE SHA TIN DISTRICT OFFICE, MR. ROGER THOMPSON ANNOUNCING DETAILS OF THE SCHEME SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS +SETTING THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE STANDARDS FOR THIS DEVELOPMENT. +
+THE DEVELOPMENT HAS BEEN THOUGHT OUT VERY CAREFULLY, INCLUDING A STUDY BY OUTSIDE CONSULTANTS, AND ONCE IT IS UNDERWAY, WE WOULD EXPECT TO WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THE COMPANY TO ENSURE THE DESIGN CONCEPTS CONTAINED IN THE CONSULTANTS' STUDY ARE ADHERED TO,+ HE SAID.
EXPLAINING THE GOVERNMENT'S DECISION TO BUILD THE PODIUM ITSELF WHILE CHARGING THE COST TO THE DEVELOPER, MR. THOMPSON SAID THIS METHOD HAD BEEN CHOSEN TO ENABLE DEVELOPMENT TO PROCEED ALMOST IMMEDIATELY IN TANDEM WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE KCR DEPOT COMPLEX.
+THE PROJECT HAS BEEN CAREFULLY COSTED AND THE GOVERNMENT WILL LET THE CONTRACTS ITSELF AND SUPERVISE THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PODIUM AND ASSOCIATED WORKS, USING THE INSTALMENTS RECEIVED FROM THE SUCCESSFUL TENDERER.
IN THIS WAY,