XN000022-1976-04-30 — Page 4

FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 1976

3

SUPPORT FOR GREATER PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT IN COMMUNITY PLANNING

*****

THE CHIEF PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT PLANNING OFFICER FOR SHA TIN NEW TOWN, MR. ALLAN CROSBY, TODAY FULLY SUPPORTED GREATER PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT IN COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT.

ADDRESSING THE OPENING SESSION OF A TWO-DAY SYMPOSIUM ON SOCIAL PLANNING IN THE NEW TOWN, HE STRESSED THAT PLANNING WAS VERY MUCH CONCERNED WITH PEOPLE, AND INCREASED INVOLVEMENT OF PEOPLE IN COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT WAS A MATTER OF HIGH PRIORITY AND IMPORTANCE.

THE SYMPOSIUM, CO-SPONSORED BY THE HONG KONG COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICE AND THE ROYAL TOWN PLANNING INSTITUTE AT THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY, IS USING SHA TIN NEW TOWN AS ITS CASE STUDY.

+

IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE SYMPOSIUM, A MINI EXHIBITION ON THE NEW TOWN IS BEING HELD AT THE UNIVERSITY USING MATERIAL OF THE HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL SHA TIN NEW TOWN EXHIBITION STAGED IN MARCH BY THE P.W.D.'S NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.

MR. CROSBY SAID THE PLANNING FOR SHA TIN NEW TOWN HAD TAKEN MANY YEARS BY MANY PEOPLE OF MANY DIFFERENT WALKS OF LIFE AND THIS WOULD CONTINUE.

+THE PROPOSALS TO-DATE ALREADY SHOW THAT THE GREAT OPPORTUNITIES FOR A VASTLY IMPROVED PHYSICAL AND SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT WITHIN THE NEW TOWN ARE BEING CAREFULLY AND METHODICALLY GRASPED AND DEVELOPED.+

THE MAIN AIM OF THE NEW TOWN, HE SAID, WAS NOT JUST TO PROVIDE 500,000 PEOPLE WITH SATISFACTORY HOMES AND EMPLOYMENT, BUT ALSO TO ENCOURAGE THE FORMATION OF A HEALTHY AND BALANCED COMMUNITY WHERE THE BASIC NEEDS OF ALL ITS RESIDENTS COULD READILY BE MET.

+FROM THE MISTAKES AND SUCCESSES OF THE PAST, THE GOVERNMENT IS DETERMINED TO DEVELOP A MORE BALANCED COMMUNITY IN THE NEW › TOWN THAN HAS CHARACTERISED TOO MUCH OF THE DEVELOPMENT WITHIN

URBAN AREAS IN THE PAST.

+THIS DOES NOT MEAN SOME PRECISE OR ACADEMIC REGULATING OF NUMBERS OF PEOPLE OR RESTRICTING THE SCOPE FOR HUMAN INTER- ACTION, MOST OF WHICH IS UNKNOWN. ON THE CONTRARY, IT IS A PRACTICAL POLICY OF GREATER FREEDOM OF CHOICE, AND IMPORTANT TO THE SOCIAL PROGRESS OF HONG KONG.+

+