XN000022-1974-09-18 — Page 4

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1974

PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT IN SHA TIN NEW TOWN ENCOURAGED

THE GOVERNMENT IS TAKING POSITIVE STEPS IN ENCOURAGING PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT IN THE SHA TIN NEW TOUN.

TENDER DOCUMENTS ARE BEING PREPARED TO INVITE DEVELOPERS TO RECLAIM ABOUT 130 ACRES OF SEABED IN THE SOUTH EASTERN PART OF SHA TIN, 58 ACRES OF WHICH WILL BE RETAINED FOR PRIVATE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT. THE REMAINDER WILL BE HANDED BACK TO THE GOVERNMENT FOR OT USES.

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ALSO UNDER ACTIVE CONSIDERATION IS THE POSSIBILITY OF OTHER PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS SORT IN SHA TIN.

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MR. JOHN DON, PROJECT MANAGER OF THE SHA TIN NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT OFFICE, PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, WHO DISCLOSED THIS AT THE LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE ROTARY CLUB HONG KONG TODAY, SAID THE SUCCESS OF THE NEW TOWN WOULD NOT DEPEND ON GOVERNMENT ALONE.

+ IT WILL EQUALLY DEPEND ON A WILLINGNESS ON THE PART OF PRIVATE DEVELOPERS AND INDUSTRIALISTS TO TAKE UP THEIR SHARE IN BUILDING PRIVATE HOUSING, SHOPS, OFFICES AND FACTORIES,+ HE SAID.

IN THE MEANTIME, MR. DON POINTED OUT THAT THE PROJECT WAS STILL FACING TWO BASIC ENGINEERING OBSTACLES WHICH MUST BE OVERCOME BEFORE ANY MAJOR DEVELOPMENT COULD PROCEED.

FIRSTLY, TOLO HARBOUR AND SHA TIN HOT WHERE THE NEW TOWN IS TO BE SITED ARE KNOWN TO BE SUBJECT TO TIDAL SURGES DURING TROPICAL CYCLONES. THIS MEANS THAT IF SUCH A SURCE VERE COINCIDENT WITH A HIGH TIDE THEN DISASTROUS FLOODING COULD OCCUR UNLESS LAND IS FORMED AND BUILDINGS CONSTRUCTED ABOVE THE MAXIMUM FLOOD WATER LEVEL.

+ IT IS THEREFORE NECESSARY TO DECIDE ON THE MINIMUM LEVEL TO WHICH LAND CAN BE FORMED WITHOUT INCURRING AN UNREASONABLE RISK OF FLOODING,+ HE SAID.

AS INSUFFICIENT COMPREHENSIVE RECORDS OF PAST TYPHOON SURGES ARE AVAILABLE TO UNDERTAKE A PRECISE STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF THIS IMPORTANT MATTER,+ THE GOVERNMENT HAS NOW COMMISSIONED A MODEL STUDY TO EXAMINE THE EFFECT OF TYPHOONS AND FURTHER RECLANATION ON TOLO HARBOUR AND SHA TIN HO1.+

THE OTHER MAJOR OBSTACLE TO DEVELOPMENT AT SHA TIN, MR. DON SAID, WAS THE PROBLEM OF SEVACE DISPOSAL ARISING FROM A LARGE POPULATION AND FROM LOCAL INDUSTRY.

+THE PROBLEM IS SOLUBLE BUT AT A HIGH COST IN CAPITAL AND TIME. THE TOTAL CAPITAL COST OF PROVIDING A SATISFACTORY SEWAGE DISPOSAL ARRANGEMENT FOR A TOWN OF HALF A MILLION POPULATION AT SHA TIN WILL EXCEED $300 MILLION AND REQUIRE FOUR YEARS FOR THE PROVISION OF AN EVEN FIRST STAGE PLANT,+ HE ADDED.

HOWEVER, MR. DON WAS CONFIDENT THAT SHA TIN COULD WITHIN THE NEXT DECADE PROVIDE A VERY SATISFYING ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH TO LIVE, WORK AND PLAY, IF "HE GOVERNMENT WERE GIVEN THE NECESSARY SUPPORT AND CO-OPERATION.

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