XN000022-1976-10-27 — Page 19

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1976

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+FROM WITHIN IT IS BEING SHAKEN BY THE PILE-DRIVERS OF DEVELOPMENT, CONCRETE WALLS AND HIGH-RISE LIVING LIFE FAR REMOVED FROM THE MARKET PLACE WHICH WAS ROOTED IN AND DREW ITS STRENGTH FROM THE LAND AND AGE-OLD TRADITIONS,

+FROM WITHOUT, TRADITIONAL VALUES HAVE BEEN ASSAULTED, AND EVEN DELIBERATELY PULLED APART AND DISCARDED WITHOUT THOUGHT THAT A REPLACEMENT WAS NEEDED.+

WHAT WAS HAPPENING NOW, MR. AKERS-JONES ADDED, WAS A +TIGHTENING OF THE SINEWS OF SOCIETY, EVOLVING A NEW SOCIAL PATTERN. +

+AND THIS PROCESS IS AS NECESSARY IN THE NEW TOWNS AND THE DEVELOPMENT AREAS AS IT IS IN HONG KONG. AND SO THE ORGANISATION OF GOVERNMENT IS BEING ADAPTED TO MEET THIS COMPARATIVELY NEWLY-PERCEIVED REQUIREMENT.

+ THE OLD DISTRICT OFFICE SYSTEM HAS BEEN MODIFIED TO MEET HIGH DENSITY URBAN LIFE, AND NEW ORGANISATIONS ARE COMING INTO BEING AMONG OUR URBAN COMMUNITY TO RESTORE ORDER AND TRANQUILITY TO THE DISORDERLY PARTS OF OUR SOCIETY.

MR. AKERS-JONES POINTED OUT THAT TSUEN WAN ALREADY HAD MORE THAN 400,000 PEOPLE LIVING IN HOUSING ESTATES, WHILE ANOTHER THREE ESTATES WOULD BE COMPLETED THIS YEAR AND ANOTHER SEVEN WERE BEING PLANNED.

+ IN THE 1960S, THE FIRST PRIORITY WAS HOUSING AND NOW IN TSUEN WAN WE HAVE A TREMENDOUS TASK TO MAKE UP DEFICIENCIES IN COMMUNITY FACILITIES.

+BUT WE HAVE STARTED THE PROCESS: LAST YEAR SAW THE OPENING OF A DIVISIONAL POLICE STATION IN KWAI CHUNG, A SEVEN-POOL SWIMMING CENTRE AND A TECHNICAL INSTITUTE.+

THIS YEAR, HE SAID, THE EMPHASIS WOULD BE ON THE PROVISION OF SECONDARY SCHOOLS AND THE PLANNING OF A TOWN HALL. BY 1980, IT WAS HOPED TO COMPLETE 25 SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN THE AREA.

THE +NEWER NEW TOWNS OF SHA TIN AND TUEN MUN EACH HAD ONE HOUSING ESTATE, ANOTHER CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND LAND FORMATION ON A VAST SCALE FOR FUTURE BUILDING.

+ IN THESE TOWNS, FACILITIES ARE BEING PROVIDED TO KEEP PACE WITH THE BUILD-UP OF POPULATION, MR. AKERS-JONES SAID. +IN THE LEK YUEN ESTATE, AT SHA TIN, PARTICULAR EFFORT HAS BEEN MADE TO PROVIDE RECREATIONAL AREAS, PEDESTRIAN WALKWAYS, MARKETS AND SHOPS.+

MR. AKERS-JONES SAID THAT WHILE THE GOVERNMENT MUST TAKE THE LEAD IN DEVELOPMENT, PRIVATE ENTERPRISE HAD A VITAL ROLE. +WE MUST HAVE FACTORIES TO PROVIDE WORK, PRIVATE EFFORT OVER ALL THE FIELD OF DEVELOPMENT COMMERCE, INDUSTRY, EDUCATION AND HOUSING IF THE NEW TOWNS ARE TO DEVELOP A LIFE OF THEIR OWN. +

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