XN000022-1976-03-19 — Page 2

FRIDAY, MARCH 19, 1976

PROPOSAL TO SET UP INDUSTRIAL ESTATES

PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY

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THE GOVERNMENT IS PROPOSING TO ESTABLISH AN INDUSTRIAL ESTATES PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY.

THE PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY WILL BE SET UP AS AN INTERIM MEASURE TO CONTINUE THE WORK OF A STEERING GROUP ON INDUSTRIAL ESTATES. PENDING THE CREATION LATER THIS YEAR OF A STATUTORY CORPORATION WHICH WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR CONSTRUCTING AND MANAGING INDUSTRIAL ESTATES IN HONG KONG. THE MEMBERS OF THE PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY WILL BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR.

THIS IS PROVIDED FOR IN THE HONG KONG INDUSTRIAL ESTATES PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY BILL 1976 PUBLISHED IN TODAY'S GAZETTE FOR GENERAL INFORMATION.

THE BILL EMPOWERS THE PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY TO ACQUIRE LAND AND TO DEVELOP IT FOR LETTING FOR USE BY INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS. THE BILL ALSO EMPOWERS THE PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY TO APPOINT THE NECESSARY STAFF TO CARRY OUT THE FUNCTIONS.

THE FUNDS OF THE PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY WILL BE PROVIDED BY THE GOVERNMENT.

THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION IS EXPECTED TO BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SHORTLY.

COMMENTING ON THE BILL, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY THAT FOR THE STAGE ONE DEVELOPMENT OF THE TAI PO INDUSTRIAL ESTATE. WORK HAD BEGUN ON RECLAIMING 60 ACRES OF LAND FROM THE SEA, ABOUT ONE-THIRD OF THE TOTAL AREA PLANNED.

SITES MIGHT, HOWEVER, BEGIN TO BECOME AVAILABLE FOR DISPOSAL AS EARLY AS AUGUST THIS YEAR, AND OCCUPATION SHOULD BE POSSIBLE AS FROM THE END OF THIS YEAR OR THE BEGINNING OF 1977. EARLY OCCUPANTS MIGHT HAVE PLANTS OPERATING BY THE SECOND HALF OF 1977.

MEANWHILE, SITE INVESTIGATIONS FOR ANOTHER INDUSTRIAL ESTATE

AT YUEN LONG ARE NEARING COMPLETION.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT SUBJECT TO EARLY APPROVAL OF FUNDS AND DEVELOPMENT PROCEEDING AS ANTICIPATED, THIS ESTATE COULD BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF 1980, WITH THE FIRST SITES BECOMING AVAILABLE TOWARDS THE END OF 1978.

WHEN FULLY DEVELOPED, BOTH THE TAI PO AND YUEN LONG INDUSTRIAL ESTATES WILL HAVE A GROSS AREA OF ABOUT 185 ACRES.

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