XN000022-1974-03-29 — Page 23

22

-

Friday, March 29, 1974

"The need is great, because the engineering problems of Hong Kong keep on growing. Last time I had the pleasure of dining with you which was two years ago, I said something about our problems of rofuse and sewage disposal, highway construction and water supply. But in these two years the refuse to be collected each day has increased from 2,500 tons to 3,000 tons; vehicles on highways from 160,000 to 200,000₫ and water consumption has continued to grow by 8% compound a year. So we need every engineer and student engineer we can train or attract.

"One of the problems that has grown steadily larger in my thinking about development of Hong Kong is what I call the problem of tho plateau. Hitherto our production and our prosperity have risen steadily and dramatically year by year. But this rising graph could get stuck on a plateau if we were restricted by lack of land of sufficient area or at the right price to attract new industries or allow old ones to expand or diversify. This too is an engineering problem because it is a problem of access to the new land available. Hence the importance of the socond Shatin tunnel, of the new highway to Castle Peak, and of the dramatic

And as you know accretion of land produced by the new bridge to Tsing Yi. thought is being given to a bridge to Lantau so as to open up the north

shore for industrial and residential development.

"And then somehow all our new development in Hong Kong must be achieved in a way that does not polizte or destroy the fine stretches of open

These are the country to the East and West of the main urban areas.

recreational lungs of Hong Kong. This too is your problem, though the Government has the obligation to draft legislation laying down standards to which you can work for your clients. We will do our part as I know you

"I realise ***** will do yours.