MONDAY, JULY 2, 1984
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GROWTH MOMENTUM TO CONTINUE THROUGH 1990'S
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THE GOVERNMENT IS FIRMLY COMMITTED TO MAINTAINING THE MOMENTUM OF HONG KONG'S DEVELOPMENT THROUGH THE 1990'S, THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS, MR NICKY CHAN, SAID TODAY (MONDAY).
MR CHAN WAS BRIEFING THE PRESS ON THE INITIAL RESULTS OF A LONG-TERM DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY BASED ON THE FINDINGS OF FIVE SUB-REGIONAL STUDIES AND OTHER INVESTIGATIONS UNDERTAKEN OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS.
THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAS BEEN FULLY BRIEFED ON THE FINDINGS AND HAS ACCEPTED THEM AS A BASIS FOR FURTHER ACTION.
MR CHAN SAID MANY OF THE TERRITORY'S CURRENT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES WOULD REACH FULFILMENT EARLY IN THE NEXT DECADE, AND GOVERNMENT HAD TO TAKE A LONG HARD LOOK AT THE PATTERN OF DEVELOPMENT UP TO THE BEGINNING OF THE 21ST CENTURY.
IT WAS NO GOOD WAITING UNTIL 1989 TO START PLANNING FOR THE 1990'S, HE SAID.
THE STUDIES ASSUMED THE CONTINUED OPERATION OF THE AIRPORT AT KAI TAK FOR AS LONG AS PRACTICABLE, BUT, SHOULD A DECISION BE MADE AT SOME TIME TO RELOCATE IT, THE PLANS LEFT OPEN OPTIONS TO DEVELOP IN OTHER DIRECTIONS.
MR CHAN SAID THE AIM OF THE VARIOUS STUDIES WAS TO PRODUCE A STRATEGY FOR LAND USE AND TRANSPORT FOR THE 1990'S, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT POPULATION GROWTH TO AROUND 7.1 MILLION BY 2001.
THE INTENTION WOULD BE TO PROVIDE THE HIGHEST QUALITY ENVIRONMENT POSSIBLE. VERY CAREFUL CONSIDERATION HAD BEEN GIVEN IN EACH OF THE FIVE SUB-REGIONAL STUDIES TO ENVIRONMENTAL AND OTHER FACTORS AND IN IDENTIFYING SUITABLE AREAS FOR FUTURE URBAN GROWTH.
COMPUTER PROGRAMMES HAD BEEN USED TO PROCESS LARGE AMOUNTS OF DATA. ALTERNATIVE STRATEGIES WERE PRODUCED ASSUMING A RANGE OF OBJECTIVES TO ACHIEVE THE BEST VALUE FOR MONEY.
TWO MAIN GROWTH PATTERNS HAD EMERGED, ASSUMING THAT THE AIRPORT STAYED WHERE IT WAS.
EACH GROWTH PATTERN WOULD ACCOMMODATE ABOUT 0.9 MILLION PEOPLE IN NEW DEVELOPMENT AREAS, PROVIDING FOR TOTAL POPULATION OF 7.1 MILLION.
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