XN000022-1977-06-14 — Page 10

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TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 1977

JAPANESE INDUSTRIALISTS VISIT TUEN MUN

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THE GOVERNMENT WILL MAKE AVAILABLE 12 HECTARES OF LAND FOR INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT IN TUEN MUN NEW TOWN OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS, A GROUP OF 15 JAPANESE INDUSTRIALISTS WERE TOLD DURING THE IR INSPECTION TOUR OF THE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENTS OF THE NEW TOWN THIS AFTERNOON.

THE GROUP, CURRENTLY ON A THREE-DAY VISIT IN HONG KONG, WAS ACCOMPANIED ON THE TOUR OF THE NEW TOWN BY MR. RONALD CROSS, ESTATE SURVEYOR OF THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT OFFICE, AND MR. ARTHUR CHAN, CHIEF TOWN PLANNING OFFICER OF THE P.W.D.'S TUEN MUN DEVELOPMENT OFFICE.

THEY TOLD THE VISITORS THAT INDUSTRIAL LAND WOULD BE PRODUCED STEADILY IN TUEN MUN TO KEEP IN STEP WITH THE GROWING POPULATION'S NEED FOR EMPLOYMENT.

AT PRESENT, THEY SAID, THERE ARE ALREADY 13 FACTORIES, AND A FURTHER 20 ARE BEING BUILT AND WILL BE OPERATIONAL LATER THIS YEAR OR EARLY NEXT YEAR.

THEY EXPLAINED THAT A MAJOR GOAL IN THE PLANNING FOR THE NEW TOWN HAD BEEN TO ENCOURAGE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A FULL RANGE OF INDUSTRIES, WITH EMPHASIS ON THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR.

TO ACHIEVE THIS, SOME 126 HECTARES OF LAND HAD BEEN RESERVED FOR LIGHT INDUSTRIAL USE.

THE VISITING GROUP, HEADED BY MR. K. OHASHI, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE JAPAN OVERSEAS ENTERPRISE ASSOCIATION, ALSO HAD A PANORAMIC VIEW FROM A VANTAGE POINT OF AREAS OF LAND BEING DEVELOPED FOR INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT.

MEANWHILE, THE SECRETARY FOR HOUSING, MR. A.J. SCOTT, TODAY WENT ON A DAY-LONG FAMILIAR ISATION TOUR OF THE NEW TERRITORIES.

ACCOMPANIED BY THE DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES (DEVELOPMENT), MR. JOHN TODD, HE SAW DEVELOPMENTS OF THE THREE NEW TOWNS OF SHA TIN, TUEN MUN AND TSUEN WAN, AND THE MARKET TOWN OF TAI PO.

PRIOR TO THE VISIT, MR. SCOTT HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR. DAVID AKERS-JONES, ON THE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME OF THE NEW TERRITORIES, WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO PUBLIC HOUSING.

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