XN000022-1978-04-13 — Page 25

- 24

THURSDAY, APRIL 13, 1978

FACTORY OPENING MARKS CONFIDENCE IN

TUEN MUN NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT

*****

THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR. DAVID AKERS-JONES, SAID TODAY THE OPENING OF A $70-MILLION FACTORY IN TUEN MUN DEMONSTRATED THE CONFIDENCE BOTH HONG KONG AND OVERSEAS INVESTORS HAVE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEW TOWN.

MR. AKERS-JONES, TOGETHER WITH THE JAPANESE CONSUL-GENERAL IN HONG KONG, MR. EIJIRO NODA, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HEUNG YEE KUK, MR. CHAN YAT SAN AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE TUEN MUN RURAL COMMITTEE, MR. LAU WONG FAT, PERFORMED A RIBBON-CUTTING CEREMONY TO OFFICIALLY OPEN THE SIX-STOREY YKK ZIPPER FACTORY IN SAN LIK STREET.

HE TOLD THE GATHERING THAT THE DEVELOPMENT OF TUEN MUN WAS PROCEEDING AT A REMARKABLE PACE. IN THE LAST THREE YEARS 16 FACTORY BUILDINGS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED, AND THERE ARE NO FEWER THAN 20 FACTORIES NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION PROVIDING ANOTHER 2.8 MILLION SQUARE FEET OF FLOOR SPACE.

+FOUNDATION WORKS ARE IN PROGRESS ON HOUSING ESTATES FOR 100,000 PEOPLE, HE SAID.

MR. AKERS-JONES ADDED THAT LAND FORMATION AND RECLAMATION WAS NOW PROCEEDING FOR THE SUCCEEDING STAGES OF THE TOWN AND NEXT MONTH THE NEW TUEN MUN HIGHWAY LINK WITH TUEN MUN AND KOWLOON WOULD BE OPENED.

+ IT IS NOW ABUNDANTLY CLEAR THAT THE GOVERNMENT'S COMMITMENT TO THE BUILDING OF THE NEW TOWN OF TUEN MUN IS ABSOLUTE, AND ANY DOUBTS THAT THERE MAY HAVE BEEN ABOUT THIS ARE FIRMLY DISPELLED BY THE INTENSE ACTIVITY THAT WE SEE ALL AROUND US,+ HE SAID.

MR. AKERS-JONES EMPHASISED ON THE IMPORTANCE OF PRIVATE INVESTMENT AND DEVELOPMENT IN TUEN MUN. THE YKK INVESTMENT OF $70 MILLION IN THE TOWN IS A GREAT ENCOURAGEMENT.

+1 AM GLAD TOO, THAT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY HAS BEEN ABLE TO ASSIST YOU BY PROVIDING FLATS FOR SOME OF YOUR KEY WORKERS, TO HELP YOU IN YOUR MOVE TO THE NEW TOWN.

+MAY I WISH YOUR COMPANY EVERY SUCCESS IN FUTURE OPERATIONS HERE IN TUEN MUN, AND MAY CO-OPERATION BETWEEN INDUSTRY AND GOVERNMENT CONTINUE FOR OUR FUTURE PROSPERITY AND THE BENEFIT OF OUR HARD-WORKING PEOPLE, SAID MR. AKERS-JONES.

THE PRESIDENT OF YKK JAPAN, PARENT COMPANY OF YKK ZIPPER FACTORY IN HONG KONG, MR. TADAO YOSHIDA, FLEW TO HONG KONG SPECIALLY TO ATTEND THE FACTORY'S OPENING CEREMONY.

MR. TOSHIDA