XN000022-1977-06-03 — Page 3

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FRIDAY, JUNE 3, 1977

MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT FOR TUEN MUN

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THE GOVERNMENT IS EMBARKING ON A $26.3 MILLION PROJECT TO IMPROVE SEWAGE TREATMENT FACILITIES IN TUEN MUN IN ORDER TO COPE WITH THE RAPID DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEW TOWN.

SITE FORMATION WORK HAS JUST STARTED FOR A PERMANENT SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT AT PILLAR POINT AND IT WILL BE COMPLETED IN MID-1978.

IMMEDIATELY AFTER THAT WORK WILL BEGIN ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PLANT ITSELF WHICH IS EXPECTED TO COME INTO OPERATION BY 1979-80.

A NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY THAT WITH THE CONTINUING DEVELOPMENT OF TUEN MUN, THE EXISTING SCREENING PLANT AND TEMPORARY SUBMARINE OUTFALL AT PAK KOK WOULD BECOME INADEQUATE.

+ IT IS THEREFORE NECESSARY TO CONSTRUCT THE PERMANENT OUTFALL AT PILLAR POINT WITH SUFFICENT CAPACITY TO CATER FOR THE FULL DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEW TOWN, HE SAID.

AS PART OF THE PROJECT, HE SAID, THE PAK KOK PLAN WILL BE CONVERTED SO AS TO PROVIDE PUMPING FACILITIES TO CARRY SEWAGE FROM THE NEW TOWN TO THE PERMANENT SEWAGE TREATMENT WORKS.

THE PROJECT WILL INVOLVE THE RESUMPTION OF ABOUT 14,940 SQ. M. OF AGRICULTURAL LAND. ONE MONTH'S NOTICE OF THE RESUMPTION WAS PUBLISHED IN TODAY'S GOVERNMENT GAZETTE.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT NO BUILDING LAND WAS INVOLVED AND THAT NO FAMILIES WOULD BE DISPLACED AS A RESULT OF THE RESUMPTION.

THE GOVERNMENT WILL PAY COMPENSATION FOR CROPS, GRAVES AND BONE-POTS, AS WELL AS EX-GRATIA ALLOWANCE TO CULTIVATORS. LAND OWNERS WILL BE OFFERED EITHER CASH COMPENSATION OR LAND EXCHANGE ENTITLEMENT DOCUMENTS.

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