XN000022-1976-12-03 — Page 4

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1976.

FIRST STAGE OF SHA TIN TOWN CENTRE READY TO GO

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THE GOVERNMENT WILL SOON RELEASE TWO PRIME DEVELOPMENT SITES IN SHA TIN IN THE FIRST STAGE OF A PLAN TO PROVIDE THE NEW TOWN WITH A THRIVING AND PRESTIGIOUS TOWN CENTRE.

ANNOUNCING THIS TODAY, THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR. DAVID AKERS-JONES, SAID THAT THE TWO SITES WOULD BE DEVELOPED UNDER GOVERNMENT SPECIFICATIONS INTO A HIGH-QUALITY RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL COMPLEX.

HE SAID THE TWO ADJOINING SITES, BETWEEN THE OLD MARKET AND THE NEW LEK YUEN ESTATE, TOTALLED ABOUT 23,225 SQUARE METRES (250,000 SQUARE FEET).

+THE DISPOSAL OF THESE TWO SITES MEANS WE ARE GETTING ON QUICKLY WITH ESTABLISHING IN SHA TIN A MODERN AND INTEGRATED TOWN CENTRE WHICH WILL HAVE A SAFE, CONVENIENT AND ATTRACTIVE ENVIRONMENT, HE SAID.

+ THE PLANNERS HAVE PROVIDED FOR MANY INNOVATIONS, INCLUDING THE SEPARATION OF VEHICULAR AND PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC, AND GIVING PRIORITY TO PEDESTRIAN SHOPPERS.

+ THE TOWN CENTRE, WHEN COMPLETED, WILL BE AT THE HEART OF A COMMUNITY OF 500,000, AND THIS FIRST STAGE WILL PROVIDE THE TOWN WITH A COMPLEX OF A HIGH STANDARD AS WELL AS HOMES FOR 8,000 PEOPLE.+

MR. AKERS-JONES SAID THE TWO SITES WOULD BE DISPOSED OF BY TENDER TO HOLDERS OF GOVERNMENT LAND EXCHANGE ENTITLEMENT DOCUMENTS.

UNDER THIS PROCEDURE, LANDOWNERS WHO HAVE SURRENDERED FIVE SQUARE FEET OF AGRICULTURAL LAND TO THE GOVERNMENT FOR DEVELOPMENT PURPOSES ARE ENTITLED TO TWO SQUARE FEET OF BUILDING LAND AT A LATER DATE.

+ IT IS PLANNED TO HOLD THE FIRST TENDER IN JANUARY AND THE SECOND IN MARCH, MR. AKERS-JONES SAID. BY DISPOSING OF THE LOTS IN THIS WAY, THE GOVERNMENT IS HONOURING ITS COMMITMENT TO THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SURRENDERED THEIR LAND IN THE NEW TERRITORIES TO ENABLE THE GOVERNMENT TO MEET ITS TARGETS IN THE 10-YEAR HOUSING PROGRAMME.+

MR. AKERS-JONES SAID THE SHA TIN SITES WOULD BE DEVELOPED BY THE PRIVATE SECTOR IN COMPLIANCE WITH CONTROL DRAWINGS AND SPECIAL CONDITIONS DRAWN UP BY THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AND THE NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION.

ACCORDING TO THE PWD'S PROJECT MANAGER IN SHA TIN, MR. JOHN DON, THE PLANS CALL FOR EACH SITE TO HAVE A THREE-STOREY PODIUM SUPPORTING FOUR RESIDENTIAL TOWER BLOCKS.

+ THE FIRST TWO FLOORS WILL BE RESERVED FOR PUBLIC AND RESIDENTS' CAR PARKING WHILE THE TOP FLOORS WILL BE GIVEN OVER TO HIGH-CLASS SHOPPING MALLS WHICH WILL COMPARE WELL WITH THE BEST ELSEWHERE IN HONG KONG,+ MR. DON SAID.

/+BOTH