XN000022-1978-06-01 — Page 9

THURSDAY, JUNE 1, 1978

SHA TIN'S MA NIU AREA LAYOUT PLAN APPROVED

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THE GOVERNMENT HAS APPROVED A LAYOUT PLAN FOR THE MA NIU AREA OF SHA TIN NEW TOWN NEAR THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG.

THE AREA, IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THE SHA TIN NEW TOWN, OVERLOOKS THE TOLO HARBOUR AND SHA TIN HOI AND PROVIDES SOME OF THE BEST VIEWS IN THE TERRITORY.

THIS PARTICULAR LAND - EXPECTED TO BE OF GREAT INTEREST TO PRIVATE DEVELOPERS -

-- WAS ONE OF THE FOUR SOFT-FILL LARGE BORROW AREAS DEVELOPED BY THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB IN CONNECTION WITH THE RECLAMATION WORK FOR THE SHA TIN RACE COURSE.

AT PRESENT, P.W.D.'S NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT IS CARRYING OUT ENGINEERING WORKS IN THE AREA TO BUILD ROADS, AND TO PROVIDE WATER SUPPLY AND SEWERAGE FACILITIES.

THESE WORKS WILL ENABLE VERY ATTRACTIVE, LOW-DENSITY HIGH-QUALITY HOUSING SITES TO BE PROVIDED FOR PRIVATE DEVELOPERS AND YIELD SOME 14 HECTARES OF LAND FOR RESIDENTIAL PURPOSES.

THE LAND WILL PROVIDE AT LEAST 40 LOTS OF VARIOUS SIZES TO HOUSE ABOUT 1,400 PEOPLE. MAINLY DETACHED COTTAGES OR LOW-RISE BUILDINGS UP TO TWO STOREYS ARE EXPECTED TO BE BUILT.

AREAS HAVE ALSO BEEN RESERVED FOR POSSIBLE SUPERMARKETS AND STORES, KINDERGARTENS, CHURCHES, INSTITUTIONS, WELFARE ORGANISATIONS, POLICE POST, AND SO ON.

A PUBLIC LOOK-OUT AREA HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AT THE EXTREME EASTERN PART OF THE AREA FROM WHICH SOME OF THE BEST VIEWS COULD BE OBTAINED.

SINCE THE PROSPECTIVE RESIDENTS IN THIS AREA ARE MOST LIKELY TO OWN PRIVATE CARS, AND THE TERRAIN IS HILLY, PUBLIC TRANSPORT

IN THE AREA IS LIKELY TO BE LIMITED TO FRANCHISED MAXI-CAB SERVICES. A BUS TERMINUS HAS BEEN PROVIDED FOR IN THE EASTERN PART OF THE AREA.

MOST OF THE SLOPES IN THIS AREA HAVE ALREADY BEEN TURFED AND DEVELOPERS WILL BE EXPECTED TO TREAT CUTTING AND FILLED SLOPES WITH APPROPRIATE PLANTING IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MASTER LANDSCAPE PLAN FOR SHA TIN NEW TOWN.

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