XN000022-1976-10-06 — Page 19

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1976 ·

DEVELOPMENT PLANS FOR N.T. AND OUTLYING ISLANDS ******

THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, TODAY OUTLINED NEW DEVELOPMENT PLANS FOR EIGHT DIFFERENT PLACES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES AND OUTLYING ISLANDS.

PEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE NEW SESSION OF THE LEGISLATIVE

SAID THE DEVELOPMENT PLANS WOULD TAKE PLACE IN THE COURSE OF THIS YEAR AND THE NEXT.

HE POINTED OUT THAT AT TAI PO, FANLING AND YUEN LONG THERE WOULD BE SUBSTANTIAL EXPANSION OF URBAN CENTRES TO PROVIDE HOUSING, LAND FOR INDUSTRY, AND COMMUNITY AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES.

AT OTHER PLACES SUCH AS SILVERMINE BAY AND CHEUNG CHAU

MALLER HOUSING ESTATES WOULD BE BUILT, HE PROMISED.

THE GOVERNOR NOTED THAT THE PACE OF PHYSICAL CHANGE IN THE NEW TERRITORIES WAS MORE DRAMATIC THAN ELSEWHERE, PARTICULARLY IN THE NEW TOWNS.

BUT THE GOVERNMENT, HE SAID HAD BEEN OPEN TO THE CHARGE THAT OUTSIDE THE NEW TOWNS IT HAD DONE TOO LITTLE.

+

CHANGE,

ASSURE RESIDENTS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES THIS WILL NOW

HE ASSERTED.

HE WENT ON TO SAY THAT DUE TO THE RAPID PACE OF DEVELOPMENT AND EXPANSION OF POPULATION IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, THERE WAS A SERIOUS DANGER OF UNDER-ADMINISTRATION THERE,

+THE MACHINERY OF GOVERNMENT MUST BE SUFFICIENTLY STRONG AND ADEQUATELY STAFFED TO RESPOND QUICKLY AND ADEQUATELY TO LOCAL PROBLEMS AND ASPIRATIONS, + HE SAID.

+A PILOT ADMINISTRATION IS BEING SET UP IN TSUEN WAN, WHERE THE POPULATION IS ALREADY MORE THAN HALF A MILLION. A TOWN MANAGER HAS BEEN APPOINTED AND A NUMBER OF SENIOR ADMINISTRATIVE POSTS CREATED.

+ THE TOWN MANAGER COMBINES THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE FORMER NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION DISTRICT OFFICER WITH THOSE OF A CITY DISTRICT COMMISSIONER.

+HE WILL HAVE UNDER HIM STAFF BOTH TO ENABLE HIM TO FULFIL HIS ESSENTIAL PART IN THE PHYSICAL PROCESS OF DEVELOPMENT, AND ALSO TO RUN A DISTRICT ORGANISATION SIMILAR TO THAT IN HONG KONG AND KOWLOON 30 AS TO FOSTER THE GROWTH OF COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS.

+T-ESE HAVE A PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT ROLE TO PLAY IN THE NEW TOWNS, WHERE SO MUCH OF THE POPULATION IS NEW AND CONTAINS SO MANY PEOPLE WHO AFE STRANGERS TO EACH OTHER, HE SAID.

/HOWEVER,