THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 1983
7
DEVELOPMENTS FORGING AHEAD IN TUEN MUN
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TO COPE WITH THE RAPID POPULATION GROWTH IN TUEN HUN, THE GOVERNMENT IS GOING FULL STEAM AHEAD IN PROVIDING THE NEW TOWN WITH INFRASTRUCTURE AND OTHER ESSENTIAL FACILITIES AND SERVICES, THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MR RICKY FUNG, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).
+OVER $500 MILLION WAS SPENT LAST YEAR ON CONSTRUCTION DEVELOPMENT ONLY, AND UP TO $700 MILLION WILL BE SPENT IN THE 1983-84 FINANCIAL YEAR, HE SAID.
IN A LUNCHEON SPEECH TO THE ROTARY CLUB OF HONG KONG NORTH, HE SAID IT WAS EQUALLY IMPORTANT TO HELP THE NEW RESIDENTS SETTLE DOWN AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AND MINIMISE THE DIFFICULTY OF ADAPTING TO A COMPLETELY NEW ENVIRONMENT.
MR FUNG POINTED OUT THAT TUEN MUN'S POPULATION, NOW STANDING AT 210 000, WAS EXPECTED TO INCREASE BY 70 000 ANNUALLY OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS AND REACH HALF A MILLION BY THE END OF THE DECADE.
+WE HAVE LEARNT FROM OUR EXPERIENCE, ALTHOUGH SOMETIMES IN THE HARD WAY, THROUGH THE YEARS OF NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT, THAT IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE ALL ESSENTIAL AND ANCILLARY FACILITIES AND SERVICES PROVIDED BEFORE PEOPLE MOVE IN, HE SAID.
+ IT IS NOW STANDARD PRACTICE FOR A WORKING GROUP UNDER THE DISTRICT BOARD TO GO THROUGH A CHECKLIST OF BASIC FACILITIES SUCH AS KINDERGARTENS, SCHOOLS, BUS SERVICES, SHOPS, BANKS POST BOXES AND NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICING UNIT, ETC. BEFORE THE FIRST BATCH OF TENANTS MOVE INTO A NEW ESTATE, A HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME ESTATE OR A TEMPORARY HOUSING AREA.
+THE WORKING GROUP ALSO MAKES PRE-INTAKE SITE VISITS TO ENSURE THAT THE LIVING ENVIRONMENT IS UP TO AN ACCEPTABLE STANDARD.
+THE DISTRICT OFFICE IS THEREFORE CHARGED WITH THE TREMENDOUS RESPONSIBILITY OF CO-ORDINATING EFFORTS FROM VARIOUS GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS WHICH CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEW TOWN ON THE ONE HAND AND TO BUILD UP A HARMONIOUS COMMUNITY ON THE OTHER.
*TO THIS END, THE DISTRICT OFFICE IS FORTUNATELY BLESSED WITH A VOCAL AND IMAGINATIVE DISTRICT BOARD WHICH IS VERY SENSITIVE TO THE NEEDS OF TUEN MUN RESIDENTS, AND A RESPONSIVE DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE COMPRISING GOVERNMENT OFFICERS WHO ARE MOST UNDERSTANDING, RECEPTIVE AND EFFICIENT, MR FUNG SAID.
+THE DISTRICT BOARD ALSO SEES THE NEED TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT THE DISTRICT TO NEW RESIDENTS, WHO ARE COMPLETE STRANGERS AND NEED TO BE GIVEN INFORMATION ABOUT THE IR SURROUNDINGS QUICKLY.
/+A RESIDENTI