XN000022-1975-11-05 — Page 15

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1975

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BOOM-TIME IN NEW TERRITORIES

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THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, THE HON. DAVID AKERS-JONES, TODAY SPOKE ABOUT THE RAPID DEVELOPMENTS TAKING PLACE IN THE RURAL AREAS AND SAID +IT IS CERTAINLY BOC TIME IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.+

+THE MAGNITUDE AND VARIETY OF DEVELOPMENT MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS RECESSION ELSEWHERE,+ HE TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

SINCE LAST NOVEMBER, HE SAID, 66 ACRES OF LAND HAVE BEEN SOLD OR GRANTED FOR INDUSTRY, REALISING REVENUE OF $82 MILLION..

THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE THE RECLAMATION OF ANOTHER 65 ACRES OF SEABED TO EXTEND THE CONTAINER PORT AT KWAI CHUNG, WHICH HE SAID, WAS PROCEEDING AT AN UNBELIEVABLE PACE.

WORK ON THE FIRST STAGE OF THE 120-ACRE TAI PO INDUSTRIAL ESTATE WILL START AT THE END OF THIS MONTH AND SHOULD BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF 1977, HE ADDED.

IN TUEN MUN, SEVEN FLATTED FACTORIES ARE UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND TWO TOY MANUFACTURERS, WHO TOGETHER WILL EMPLOY OVER 2,000 WORKERS, WILL START BUILDING WITHIN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS AND ARE EXPECTED TO BE IN PRODUCTION BY THE END OF NEXT YEAR.

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MR. AKERS-JONES CONTINUED :+ A TOTAL OF 340 ACRES OF LAND FOR RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL USE HAVE ALSO BEEN EXCHANGED, GRANTED OR SOLD SINCE NOVEMBER LAST, AT A PREMIUM OF $182 MILLION.

+THIS INCLUDES THE LARGE SITE AT YUEN LONG OF 285+ ACRES TO PROVIDE HOUSING FOR 25,000 PEOPLE IN INDIVIDUAL HOUSES.

+IN SHA TIN, THE RECENT SALE OF THE RIGHT TO RECLAIM AND DEVELOP PART OF THE SEABED PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO THE DEVELOPER TO BUILD HOUSES, SHOPS AND SCHOOLS FOR A COMMUNITY OF 30,000 PEOPLE.

+NEXT YEAR, THERE WILL BE AN ADDITIONAL AREA OF SEABED FOR SALE AT SHA TIN, AND I HOPE THAT 40 ACRES OF LAND IN THE HILLS ABOVE KWAI CHÚNG, NOW BEING TERRACED BY THE DEVELOPERS OF THE CONTAINER TERMINALS, WILL ALSO BECOME AVAILABLE FOR PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT AT THE END OF NEXT YEAR.+

/THE SECRETARY

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