XN000022-1977-11-29 — Page 2

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1977

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NUMEROUS SCHOOL PROJECTS FOR SHA TIN NEW TOWN

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SHA TIN NEW TOWN IS TO HAVE 45 PRIMARY AND 41 SECONDARY SCHOOLS BY THE TIME IT IS COMPLETE, THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR. DAVID AKERS-JONES, SAID TODAY.

MR. AKERS-JONES WAS SPEAKING AT THE FIRST SPEECH DAY FOR FORM 5 STUDENTS OF THE ONLY SECONDARY SCHOOL IN SHA TIN THE SHA TIN GOVERNMENT SECONDARY SCHOOL.

HE SAID HALF A MILLION PEOPLE WOULD LIVE IN SHA TIN AND THEY QUITE NATURALLY EXPECTED TO HAVE MARKETS AND SHOPPING CENTRES, SCHOOLS AND CLINICS AND A PLACE TO WORK.

+BUT WE MUST TRY TO CREATE OUT OF THE RAW MATERIALS OF TOWN DEVELOPMENT A PLEASANT AND ATTRACTIVE TOWN, WHICH WILL MAKE ITS CITIZENS PROUD AND HAPPY TO LIVE HERE,+ HE SAID.

FIRST OF ALL, MR, AKERS-JONES SAID IT MUST BE POSSIBLE TO MOVE ABOUT EASILY AND IN PLANNING SHA TIN, THE GOVERNMENT HAD TRIED TO ENSURE THAT PEDESTRIANS, MOTORISTS AND CYCLISTS HAD ALL BEEN TAKEN CARE OF.

THERE WILL BE SUBWAYS FOR WALKERS AND A NETWORK OF CYCLE TRACKS LINKING THE MAIN RESIDENTIAL AND SHOPPING AREAS AND THE FACTORY ZONE WHICH SHOULD BRING BACK THE BICYCLE AS A USEFUL, CONVENIENT, CHEAP AND HEALTHY FORM OF TRANSPORT, HE SAID.

TO THE NORTH, HE SAID, THE LANDSCAPING OF THE CENTRE OF THE RACECOURSE WITH LAKES AND GARDENS WILL PROVIDE A MARVELLOUS PLACE FOR STROLLING ABOUT FOR PARENTS AND THEIR CHILDREN.

NEXT TO IT, HE ADDED, THE JUBILEE SPORTS CENTRE -- BIGGER THAN THE WHOLE OF VICTORIA PARK WILL INSPIRE YOUNG ATHLETES.

+WE ARE HOPING TO REMOVE THE POLLUTION FROM THE RIVER AND MAKE IT A PLEASANT PLACE FOR BOATING. WHEREVER POSSIBLE, THERE MUST BE GARDENS AND TREES AND EASY MEANS OF GETTING INTO THE COUNTRY PARKS IN THE SURROUNDING HILLS, HE SAID.

MR. AKERS-JONES SAID THE HEART OF SHA TIN WOULD BE DEVELOPED NEAR THE PRESENT MARKET AND WOULD PROVIDE SOCIAL, CULTURAL, COMMUNITY AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES.

+ IT WILL BE DOMINATED BY THE TOWN HALL, THE CENTRAL LIBRARY AUDITORIUM AND RESTAURANTS, AND WILL BE SITUATED AT THE HUB OF THE TRANSPORT SYSTEM AND LINKED TO THE RAILWAY.+

HE SAID THE NEXT FEW YEARS WOULD SEE SHA TIN CHANGING FROM A NOISY DUSTY CONSTRUCTION SITE INTO A TOWN AND HE BELIEVED THAT THE LOCAL INHABITANTS MUST BE INVOLVED IN THE WAY THE TOWN DEVELOPED.

+THIS WILL BE ONE OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARD AND I HOPE ONE DAY SOME OF YOU WILL SERVE ON IT, HE TOLD THE GRADUATES.

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