XN000022-1977-10-15 — Page 4

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1977

BRITISH MPS VISIT SHA TIN NEW TOWN

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TWO VISITING BRITISH MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT, MR. KENNETH WEETCH AND MR. IAN WRIGGLESWORTH, TODAY WITNESSED ON THE SPOT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES UNDER WAY AT THE NEW TOWN OF SHA TIN.

THE VISIT FOLLOWED BRIEFINGS BY THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR. DAVID AKERS-JONES, AND BY THE DIRECTOR OF HOUSING, MR. DONALD LIAO. THE MPS WERE ACCOMPANIED BY THE DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR. JOHN TODD DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF HOUSING (ESTATE MANAGEMENT), MR. H.R. HUSBAND AND THE NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION'S ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER (DEVELOPMENT), MISS FRANCESCA SIDNEY.

THE TOUR TOOK THE MPS TO LEK YUEN ESTATE WHERE THEY VISITED AN OLD PEOPLE'S HOME AND SAW THE VARIOUS COMMUNITY AND SHOPPING FACILITIES PROVIDED FOR THE RESIDENTS. LEK YUEN ESTATE IS THE FIRST OF 12 PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES PLANNED FOR SHA TIN TO HOUSE ABOUT 60 PER CENT OF THE NEW TOWN'S PROJECTED POPULATION.

EARLIER, THE MPS WERE TOLD THE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME THAT WOULD TRANSFORM SHA TIN INTO A SELF-CONTAINED, BALANCED COMMUNITY OF 550,000 PEOPLE BY MID-1980'S.

DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEW TOWN IS DIVIDED INTO TWO STAGES, WITH THE FIRST COVERING THE CENTRALLY-LOCATED AREAS, MOSTLY RECLAIMED FROM SHA TIN HOT, WHICH HAVE A DESIGNED POPULATION OF ABOUT 260,000.

MAJOR PROJECTS UNDER STAGE ONE DEVELOPMENT INCLUDE HOUSING COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS, LAND RECLAMATION AND DRAINAGE, TRUNK ROADS, SEWAGE TREATMENT WORKS, SERVICE RESERVOIRS AND RAILWAY TRACK WIDENING.

STAGE TWO DEVELOPMENT COVERS THE REMAINDER OF THE WORK INVOLVED IN THE COMPLETION OF THE NEW TOWN, WITH A DESIGNED POPULATION OF ABOUT 290,000.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

MPS TO GIVE PRESS CONFERENCE

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THE TWO VISITING LABOUR MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT, MR. IAN WRIGGLESWORTH AND MR. KENNETH WEETCH WILL GIVE A PRESS CONFERENCE ON MONDAY (OCTOBER 17) AT NOON IN THE G.I.S. THEATRE, FIFTH FLOOR, BEACONSFIELD HOUSE.

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO HAVE THE PRESS CONFERENCE COVERED.

TELEVISION CREWS ARE ADVISED TO ARRIVE EARLIER SO THAT THEY HAVE AMPLE TIME TO SET UP THEIR EQUIPMENT.

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