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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1980
THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY CORPORATION HAS BEEN ASKED TO BUILD AND OPERATE THE ISLAND LINE. IT WILL DEVELOP PROPERTIES ALONG THE ROUTE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PRIVATE COMPANIES OF ITS CHOOSING. THE PROFITS FROM THESE DEVELOPMENTS WILL MAKE A MAJOR CONTRIBUTION TO THE COST OF THE PROJECT.
THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT BUILDING THE RAILWAY STRUCTURES WOULD PRESENT AN OPPORTUNITY FOR DEVELOPMENT OF SOME OF THE SITES REQUIRED FOR CONSTRUCTION.
+THERE IS SUCH A SIGNIFICANT RAILWAY CONTENT IN ALL THE SITES THAT ONLY THE CORPORATION COULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR DEVELOPMENT, IN ORDER TO AVOID INTERFACE PROBLEMS BETWEEN BUILDING THE RAILWAY AND DEVELOPING THE SITES, HE SAID.
+ IT IS ESTABLISHED GOVERNMENT POLICY TO ALLOW THE MTRC TO DEVELOP SUCH SITES,+ HE ADDED.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID A LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT SYSTEM AND OTHER ALTERNATIVES FOR THE CORRIDOR HAD BEEN CAREFULLY EXAMINED, BUT THE STUDIES HAD SHOWN THAT NONE OF THESE SYSTEMS WOULD BE ABLE TO MEET THE PASSENGER DEMAND AND PROVIDE REASONABLE SERVICE IN THE CROWDED TRAFFIC CONDITIONS OF THE CORRIDOR.
+AS SAID EARLIER, SURFACE MODES OF TRANSPORT ALONE ARE NOT ENOUGH. WE MUST GO UNDERGROUND, THE SPOKESMAN CONCLUDED.
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LEASE ENFORCEMENT ACTION TO BE TAKEN IN TUEN MUN NEW TOWN
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THE GOVERNMENT IS TO TAKE TOUGH ACTION AGAINST CASES OF ILLEGAL ADDITIONS AND EXTENSIONS TO BUILDINGS IN TUEN MUN NEW TOWN.
AN ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL UNIT HAS BEEN SET UP IN THE LOCAL DISTRICT OFFICE TO ENFORCE LEASE CONDITIONS.
THE UNIT ALSO AIMS TO CONTROL UNAUTHORISED BUILDING WORK ON LEASED LAND AND UNLAWFUL OCCUPATION OF CROWN LAND.
STAFF OF THE UNIT HAVE BEEN CONDUCTING A SURVEY SINCE THE BEGINNING OF NOVEMBER ON THE EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM AND IT IS EXPECTED THAT ENFORCEMENT ACTION WILL START IN FEBRUARY.
OF 1 749 DOMESTIC UNITS IN 39 BUILDINGS SURVEYED SO FAR, 424 CASES OF ILLEGAL ALTERATIONS OR ADDITIONS HAVE BEEN FOUND.
A TUEN MUN DISTRICT OFFICE SPOKESMAN SAID SINCE TUEN MUN NEW TOWN WAS RAPIDLY GROWING IT WAS OPPORTUNE TO ENFORCE CONDITIONS OF GRANT OR LEASE OR ELSE THE PROBLEM COULD RECOME INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL.
WAYS TO DEAL WITH THE SITUATION WOULD INCLUDE PHYSICAL DEMOLITION AND CLEARANCE, AND PROSECUTION.
/A JOINT