XN000022-1976-06-07 — Page 3

MONDAY, JUNE 7, 1976

MR. OʻRORKE SAID TWO PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES WOULD BE BUILT ON THE CENTRAL PART OF THE RECLAMATION. THESE WOULD PROVIDE HOMES FOR NEARLY 80,000 WITH A FULL RANGE OF COMMUNITY FACILITIES, INCLUDING SCHOOLS, OPEN SPACE, COMMUNITY HALLS, SHOPS AND MARKETS.

P.W.D. PLANNERS ALSO INTENDED TO PROVIDE A NETWORK OF PEDESTRIAN FOOTPATHS AND CYCLE TRACKS LINKING THE RESIDENTIAL AREAS WITH THE COMMERCIAL CULTURAL AND RECREATIONAL CENTRES IN THE TOWN.

+ANOTHER IMPORTANT FEATURE ON THE RECLAMATION, MR. O'RORKE SAID, +WILL BE A LARGE TOWN CENTRE WHICH WILL BE THE FOCUS FOR THE NEW TOWN'S ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CIVIC ACTIVITIES.

+THIS WILL INCLUDE A SERIES OF BUILDINGS HOUSING A PUBLIC LIBRARY, A STUDY CENTRE, A THEATRE, AN ART GALLERY AND STUDIO, EXHIBITION HALL AND MEETING ROOMS.

+IT WILL ALSO PROVIDE THE MAIN COMMERCIAL AREA WITH SHOPS, BANKS, RESTAURANTS AND OFFICES FRONTING A CENTRAL PEDESTRIAN PRECINCT. +

A LARGE PARK SIMILAR TO VICTORIA PARK ON HONG KONG ISLAND, WAS ALSO PLANNED NEXT TO THE TOWN CENTRE WITH A SWIMMING POOL COMPLEX, HE ADDED.

ILLUSTRATING THE SCOPE OF THE RECLAMATION, MR. O'RORKE SAID THAT SOME FOUR MILLION CUBIC METRES (5.2 MILLION CUBIC YARDS) OF FILL WOULD BE REQUIRED TO FORM THE 60 HECTARES (148 ACRES) OF NEW LAND.

NEARLY HALF THIS VOLUME WOULD BE OBTAINED FROM THE SEABED NEAR LUNG KWU CHAU AND SHA CHAU - TWO OUTLYING ISLANDS TO THE WEST OF TUEN MUN WHILE OTHER FILL MATERIAL WOULD BE EXCAVATED MOSTLY FROM THE SOUTH-WESTERN FOOTHILLS OF THE CASTLE PEAK PRO- MONTORY,

AS PART OF THE RECLAMATION PROJECT, HE SAID, A TEMPORARY BREAKWATER WOULD BE CONSTRUCTED BETWEEN THE CENTRAL AND EASTERN PARTS OF THE RECLAMATION TO FORM A SHELTERED AREA OF ABOUT 11 HECTARES (27 ACRES) FOR USE AS A TEMPORARY TYPHOON SHELTER FOR BOATS PLYING IN THE AREA.

+BUS ONLY+ LANE IN LEIGHTON ROAD

*****

STARTING FROM 10 A.M. ON WEDNESDAY (JUNE 9) ALL OMNIBUSES WILL BE ALLOWED TO USE THE SECTION OF THE BUS ONLY LANE WESTBOUND BETWEEN MATHESON STREET AND CANAL ROAD EAST.

APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC SIGNS WILL BE PUT UP TO GUIDE MOTORISTS.

13