XN000022-1973-06-06 — Page 33

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Wednesday, June 6, 1973

REPORT ON BRIDGE TO LANTAU

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Planning consultants appointed to advise on the development

of Lantau Island and the Sai Kung and Plover Cove peninsulas will be

asked to submit a report on the benefits and disadvantages of building

a bridge to north east Lantau.'

If they recommend that the project should be proceeded with,

they would also be asked to advise on the preferable alignment,

the form it should take, what would suffice immediately, what is likely

to be required in the longer term and what road pattern is needed to serve

it.

Speaking in reply to a question in the Legislative Council today,

the Director of Public Works, the Hon. J.J. Robson added that the construction

of a bridge would be the best method of making available substantial additional

areas of land for industrial and residential development,

This proposition is attractive because it could be linked with

a new motor road to Castle Peak and with water and electricity services

in the Tsuen Wan rea, he said.

"But it must of course be looked at realistically, as there

are many factors to be considered.

"We're doing it as quickly as we can because the impact of provision

of road access would not be restricted to Lantau itself, but would have a

tremendous effect on the pattern of development of Hong Kong as a whole," he said.

Mr. Robson stressed that Lantau being two and a half times the size

of Hong Kong, its development, including industrial development of the northeastern

sector, is not incompatible with the government's policy of preserving the rost

of the island for recreational facilities.

/Mr. Robson ...