XN000022-1976-03-13 — Page 2

SATURDAY, MARCH 13, 1976

P.W.D.'S SHA TIN NEW TOWN EXHIBITION OPENS MAJOR ADVANCES IN SHA TIN DEVELOPMENT PREDICTED

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THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, MR. DAVID MCDONALD, TODAY (SATURDAY) PREDICTED MAJOR ADVANCES IN WORK ON SHA TIN NEW TOWN THIS YEAR, AND ESTIMATED THAT SOME $400 MILLION OF GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE FUNDS WOULD BE POURED INTO THE PROJECT IN THE NEXT TWELVE MONTHS.

MR. MCDONALD WAS SPEAKING AT THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE P.W.D.'S SHA TIN NEW TOWN EXHIBITION IN THE SHOPPING COMPLEX OF THE NEW LEK YUEN ESTATE AT SHA TIN. THE EXHIBITION — THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IS BEING STAGED BY THE P.W.D.'S NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, AND WILL BE OPEN FROM 10 A.M. TO 7 P.M. EACH DAY UNTIL NEXT THURSDAY (MARCH 18).

MR. MCDONALD SAID: THE SHA TIN NEW TOWN PROJECT OFFICE OF THE NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT HAS ALREADY PUT A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF EFFORT INTO PREPARATORY PLANNING WORKS FOR THE NEW TOWN,

+NOW IT IS AT THE STAGE WHEN MAJOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS WILL BEGIN TO TAKE SHAPE.

+THESE WILL INCLUDE MAJOR LAND RECLAMATION AND DRAINAGE, TRUNK ROADS, A SEWAGE TREATMENT WORKS, SERVICE RESERVOIRS, RAILWAY TRAČK WIDENING AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF HOUSING, AND COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS.+

THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SHA TIN RURAL COMMITTEE, MR. NG CHAN-LAM, OFFICIALLY OPENING THE SIX-DAY EXHIBITION, SAIDI + LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEW TOWN'S COMPLETION WITH A FEELING OF EXCITEMENT.

MR. NG PLEDGED THE SUPPORT OF THE SHA TIN RURAL COMMITTEE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEW TOWN, AND STRESSED THE NEED FOR CONTINUING CO-OPERATION BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PEOPLE OF SHA TIN AS THE NEW TOWN GREW.

HE SAID: THE PURPOSE OF THE EXHIBITION SPONSORED BY THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT IS TO GIVE THE PUBLIC A CLEAR VIEW OF FUTURE DEVELOPMENT IN SHA TIN NEW TOWN, AND THEREBY TO AROUSE PUBLIC INTEREST.

+THE PLANS AND MODELS DISPLAYED IN THIS EXHIBITION HAVE GROWN OUT OF CAREFUL RESEARCH AND DETAILED INVESTIGATIONS, AND ARE IN ACCORDANCE WITH MODERN IDEAS OF TOWN PLANNING.

+IT IS EVIDENT THAT TO DEVELOP AN AREA SO THAT ITS INHABITANTS CAN SHARE IN THE BENEFITS OF THE DEVELOPMENT IS A TASK WHICH NEEDS A DOUBLE-SIDED APPROACH.

+ IT IS THEREFORE NECESSARY THAT THERE SHOULD BE CLOSE CO-OPERATION BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PUBLIC, SO THAT DEVELOPMENT WORKS MAY PROCEED SMOOTHLY.+

/HE AGREED