XN000022-1972-06-29 — Page 4

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Thursday, June 29, 1972

BETTER LOW-COST HOUSING ESTATES

Funds have been approved by the Finance Committee for the construction

of two new Low Cost Housing Estates; one at Lek Yuen, Sha Tin and the other

at Lei Muk Shu, Kwai Chung.

Although these estates have been planned on the usual basis of 35

square feet for each adult, they will include many more facilities for day to

day life than has been the case up to now,

Work on the Lek Yuen estate, estimated to cost over $63 million, is

to begin later this year. It will be built on an area of 23 acres of reclaimed

land at Sha Tin.

The estate is part of the Sha Tin New Town development and is designed

to accommodate 23,000 people. The original plan was to provide housing for

some 30,000 people, but with new design features, the population density has

been reduced.

A further site at Sha Tin has already been earmarked to provide a

second estate to accommodate 20,000 people. But as part of the government's

aim not to allow the total amount of housing it provides fall below the demand,

long term plans envisage another three estates in the area, providing housing

for 110,000 people.

In addition to the usual domestic and welfare facilities, the estate

will have an air-conditioned shopping centre, with department stores, a post

office, a bank and a restaurant.

This type ..**