XN000022-1976-01-09 — Page 3

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Friday, January 9, 1976

Of the projected population of the new town, he said about

60 per cent would live in eleven public housing estates accommodating

about 300,000 people.

The first of these estates, Lek Yuen Estate with accommodation

for 23,000, was nearing completion and work had already begun on the

next estate at Wo Che, adjoining Lek Yuen.

The Wo Che Estate was scheduled to be completed in early

1979 and would provide homes for another 34,000 people.

Mr. Crosby pointed out that although the government had

accepted the challenge to house the largest proportion of the population

within the new town, about 80 per cent of the residential land with Sha

Tin New Town would be allocated to provide housing of various population

densities.

Mr. Crosby stressed however that housing alone did not

make a town and it was an essential part of the planning for the new

town that every housing estate, both public and private, had its own

local primary and secondary schools, local open space and playgrounds,

local shops and basic facilities.

In keeping with the needs of the community, he said, a total

of 45 additional primary schools and 41 more secondary schools would be

built during the course of the development of the new town.

In addition, at least one technical institute would be

developed conventiently close to the Sha Tin Railway Station and central

bus station to give technical training facilities and serve the local

industries for the whole area.

Sites were also being reserved for an additional technical

institute, a polytechnic and teachers' training college.

To support