XN000022-1974-10-16 — Page 73

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Wednesday, October 16, 1974

accepts.

The first steps along the path have now been taken

with the provision of land on special terms to two new

industries in Tsing I. In the long term I believe the

eventual answer is, as it were, to expand the harbour westwards.

by developing -the north shore of Lantau for industry by means

of a bridge from the mainland. But though planning for this

is now essential, it is a very large project and in the nature

of things its impact could not be felt before the 180s. For

the immediate future more rapid action is necessary, and your

Government believes that the right answer is to establish

industrial estates along the lines of those found so successful

elsewhere. With this in mind a feasibility study has been

commissioned for Junk Bay, and similar studies are far

advanced of much easier sites at Taipo and Yuen Long.

projects will be given high priority. The amount of land planned

for ordinary industrial development in the New Towns is also

being reconsidered. I think it essential that in this period

when there is slack, in the construction and engineering

industry we should press on with work that will make Hong Kong

a more attractive place for investment when the up-turn in

the financial climate of the world comes again, as come it will.

Building

These

***

Clearly the Government has an obligation to ensure that

new building conforms with planning, safety and other requirements.

But at this time it is more than ever necessary that these

checks should not avoidably hold up the putting in hand of new

work. I have therefore directed that further efforts should

be made to streamline procedures to ensure swifter transaction

/of business