XN000022-1975-03-26 — Page 8

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 1975

GOVERNOR TOURS YUEN LONG

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THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, SAW SOME OF THE WAYS YUEN LONG 15 TACKLING ITS PROBLEMS AND KEEPING UP WITH MODERN DEVELOPMENT DURING A VISIT TO THE DISTRICT THIS AFTERNOON.

ACCOMPANIED BY THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR. DAVID AKERS-JONES, AND OTHER SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, SIR MURRAY BEGAN THE TOUR WITH A VISIT TO KAM TIN RIVER IN SHÙI TAU.

THERE, A CONCERTED CLEAN-UP EFFORT BY SEVERAL DEPARTMENTS HAS HELPED TO IMPROVE THE FLOW OF THE RIVER, PREVIOUSLY CLOGGED WITH REFUSE AND DEBRIS AND CAUSING HEALTH JAŽARDS. THE GOVERNOR ALSO MADE A DRIEF STOP AT A HISTORICAL TEMPLE WHICH IS SITUATED NEAR THE RIVER BANK.

SIR MURRAY THEN WENT BY CAR TO YUEN LONG TOWN, BUT ON HIS WAY HE STOPPED BRIEFLY AT TAI SHANG WAS TO INSPECT A SITE WHERE PRIVATE DEVELOPERS YIAVE PROPOSED TO BUILD 5,000 GARDEN-TYPE HOUSES WITH COMMERCIAL AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES FOR 25,000, PEOPLE.

ARRIVING AT YAU SAN STREET AT ONE END OF YUEN LONG TOWN SIR MURRAY WENT ON FOOT TO SEE TWO UNDEVELOPED, SPOTS IN THE TOWN CHUN HING ARCADE AND TUNG YICK BAZAAR.

THESE TWO AREAS WERE CLUTTERED WITH PRIVATELY-OWNED TEMPORARY STRUCTURES MAINLY USED FOR BUSINESS PURPOSES.

THE SITE OF TUNG YICK BAZAAR HAS BEEN ZONED FOR A HAWKER BAZAAR TOGETHER WITH A HIGH DENSITY RESIDENTIAL BLOCK, AND THE AREA OF CHUN HING ARCADE HAS BEEN EARMARKED FOR A REST GARDEN. HOWEVER, THE LAND HAS FIRST TO BE VACATED BEFORE DEVELOPMENT CAN PROCEED.

WHILE THERE, SIR MURRAY TALKED TO A NUMBER OF SHOP-KEEPERS AND PASSERS-BY AND ENQUIRED AFTER THEIR BUSINESS AND LIVELIHOOD, HE ALSO ASKED THE SHOP-KEEPERS WHETHER THE LOW-LYING AREA HAD SUFFERED ANY FLOODING DURING THE RAINY SEASON.

SER MURRAY NEXT WENT UP TO THE ROOF-TOP OF A HIGH-RISE BUILDING TO GET AN OVERALL VIEW OF YUEN LONG.

THE GOVERNMENT HAS PLANS TO CARRY RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT TO THE WEST OF THE TOWN BEYOND THE EXISTING HOUSING AUTHORITY'S FLATTED FACTORY. IT IS ALSO PROPOSED TO SET ASIDE A LARGE AREA TO THE NORTH FOR DEVELOPMENT AS AN INDUSTRIAL ESTATE.

THIS PROPOSED ESTATE WOULD PROVIDE CONSIDERABLE EMPLOYMENT FOR THE LOCAL POPULATION.

BEFORE LEAVING, SIR MURRAY MET A GROUP OF LOCAL LEADERS OVER TEA IN THE YUIEN LONG TOWN HALL. HE WAS ALSO ENTERTAINED BY A CHINESE ORCHESTRA FORMED SIX MONTHS AGO BY A GROUP OF YOUNG MUSICIANS IN THE DISTRICT,