TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 1985
8
UK TRANSPORT CHIEF LOOKS AT EASTERN DEVELOPMENT
*****
THE UK SECRETARY OF STATE FOR TRANSPORT, MR NICHOLAS RIDLEY, TODAY (TUESDAY) HAD A LOOK AT ONE OF HONG KONG'S MOST SPECTACULAR HIGHWAYS -- THE ISLAND EASTERN CORRIDOR, DURING A HARBOUR CRUISE FROM CENTRAL TO SHAU KEI WAN.
ACCOMPANIED BY THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR HONG KONG AND KOWLOON, MR BARRIE WIGGHAM- EASTERN DISTRICT OFFICER, MR BOWEN LEUNG, AND OFFICIALS FROM VARIOUS GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, MR RIDLEY BOARDED THE GOVERNOR'S LAUNCH LADY MAUREEN FOR THE CRUISE TO EASTERN DISTRICT.
HE WAS BRIEFED BY MR LEUNG ON THE MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS MADE TO TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT IN THE DISTRICT OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS WITH THE COMPLETION OF THE ISLAND EASTERN CORRIDOR AND THE OPENING OF THE MTR ISLAND LINE.
MR RIDLEY WAS TOLD THAT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SAI WAN HO RECLAMATION PROJECT WOULD PROVIDE NUMEROUS SERVICES AND FACILITIES FOR RESIDENTS IN THE DISTRICT. THESE INCLUDE A MAGISTRACY AND GOVERNMENT OFFICE BUILDINGS, A CLINIC, RECREATION GROUNDS, AND COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT, ALL OF WHICH WILL BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF THE DECADE.
HE ALSO LEARNED THAT SEVERAL CONSORTIA WERE BIDDING FOR THE CONTRACT TO BUILD HONG KONG'S SECOND CROSS-HARBOUR TUNNEL, LINKING EASTERN DISTRICT WITH KWUN TONG.
AT TAIKOO SHING, MR RIDLEY VISITED NUMEROUS SHOPS IN THE CITY PLAZA COMPLEX.
AT THE LYEMUN FORT, MR RIDLEY HAD A PANORAMIC VIEW OF CHAI SHAU KEI WAN AND SAI WAN HO AND WAS BRIEFED ON THE PROGRESS
WAN, OF VARIOUS DEVELOPMENTS IN THESE AREAS.
TWO MAJOR RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS AT HENG FA CHUEN IN CHAI WAN AND KORNHILL IN QUARRY BAY WILL PROVIDE HOMES FOR 65 000 PEOPLE WHEN THEY COMPLETED IN A FEW YEARS' TIME. THE 1 500-BED EASTERN DISTRICT HOSPITAL, NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION, WILL BE COMPLETED IN EARLY 1990.
BEFORE THE TOUR, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR DAVID AKERS-JONES, HOSTED A LUNCH FOR MR RIDLEY AND HIS WIFE, WHICH WAS ATTENDED BY THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, MR DONALD LIAO.
19