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FRIDAY, MAY 31, 1985
GOVERNOR SEES EASTERN DISTRICT PROGRESS
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EASTERN WILL EVOLVE FROM A DISTRICT WITH CHRONIC TRAFFIC PROBLEMS INTO ONE WITH EXCELLENT TRAFFIC INFRASTRUCTURE, WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF NEW TRAFFIC MEASURES ALONG KING'S ROAD, AND THE OPENING OF THE ISLAND EASTERN CORRIDOR AND MTR ISLAND LINE.
AND THIS IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE JOINT EFFORTS OF THE GOVERNMENT AND VARIOUS ADVISORY BODIES, INCLUDING THE EASTERN DISTRICT BOARD.
THE TRANSPORT IMPROVEMENT SHOULD BE WELL ABLE TO COPE WITH THE INCREASE OF POPULATION UP TO ABOUT 750 000 BY THE END OF THE CENTURY.
THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, WAS TOLD THIS TODAY DURING A VISIT TO THE DISTRICT, AFTER HE OPENED THE MTR ISLAND LINE.
FROM THE ROOFS OF TWO BUILDINGS, SIR EDWARD HAD PANORAMIC VIEWS OF THE PROGRESS OF VARIOUS DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AND LAND USE IN SAI WAN HO, SHAU KEI WAN AND CHAI WAN.
ACCOMPANIED BY THE SECRETARY FOR HONG KONG AND KOWLOON, MR BARRIE WIGGHAM, THE GOVERNOR WAS BRIEFED BY OFFICIALS FROM DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS ON MATTERS CONCERNING TRANSPORT, PUBLIC HOUSING, AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS.
THE EASTERN DISTRICT HOSPITAL IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN 1991, PROVIDING 1 550 BEDS AND A COMPREHENSIVE RANGE OF TREATMENT, 24-HOUR ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY SERVICES AND SPECIALIST OUT-PATIENT CLINICS.
WELL IN PROGRESS ON THE SAI WAN HO RECLAMATION IS THE ELEVATED SECTION OF THE ISLAND EASTERN CORRIDOR, WHICH WILL OPEN TO TRAFFIC IN JULY. OTHER PROJECTS ON THE RECLAMATION INCLUDE A MAGISTRACY AND GOVERNMENT OFFICE BUILDING, RECREATION SITES INCLUDING AN INDOOR GAMES HALL, AND FOUR COMMERCIAL-RESIDENTIAL SITES.
IN CHAI WAN, 90 PER CENT OF THE 120 000 PEOPLE LIVE IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES, TEMPORARY HOUSING AREAS OR HOME OWNERSHIP ESTATES,
CHAI WAN IS ONE OF THE MAIN INDUSTRIAL AREAS ON HONG KONG ISLAND, WITH SOME 1 100 INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS EMPLOYING OVER 25 000 PEOPLE.
WITH THE COMPLETION OF THE MTR ISLAND LINE AND THE PLANNED EXTENSION OF THE ISLAND EASTERN CORRIDOR FROM SHAU KEI WAN, MORE INDUSTRIAL ISTS AND DEVELOPERS ARE EXPECTED TO INVEST IN CHAI WAN.
MR CHAN YING-LUN, AN ELECTED DISTRICT BOARD MEMBER AND A LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOR, ALSO BRIEFED SIR EDWARD ON COMMUNITY FEATURES AND PROBLEMS IN SHAU KEI WAN.
PRIOR TO THE DISTRICT TOUR, THE GOVERNOR HAD LUNCH WITH MEMBERS OF THE DISTRICT BOARD AND THEIR CHAIRMAN, MR SHUM CHOI- SANG.
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