XN000022-1978-10-02 — Page 2

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MONDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1978

TSING YI TOWN CENTRE PROJECT

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THE GOVERNMENT IS TO SPEND $170 MILLION TO DEVELOP THE CENTRALLY LOCATED TSING Y BAY AREA WHICH WILL INCLUDE A SITE FOR THE PROPOSED TOWN CENTRE.

ENGINEERING WORK IS SCHEDULED TO START IN DECEMBER THIS YEAR AND IT INVOLVES MAINLY LAND RECLAMATION AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS AND DRAINS.

THE CHIEF PLANNING OFFICER OF P.W.D.'S TSUEN WAN NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT OFFICE, MR. KEITH AUSTIN, SAID TODAY (MONDAY) THE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT WOULD ALSO MAKE LAND AVAILABLE FOR A VILLAGE RESITE AREA, DISTRICT OPEN SPACES AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES.

THE PROPOSED TOWN CENTRE WILL HAVE MAJOR COMMERCIAL AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES, INCLUDING A MARKET, AN INDOOR GAMES HALL AND A MULTI-STOREY CAR PARK.

IT WILL OCCUPY A 14 HECTARES SITE NEAR THE ISLAND'S DEVELOPING RESIDENTIAL ZONES.

THE TSUEN WAN TOWN MANAGER, MR. JAMES HAYES, DESCRIBED THE TOWN CENTRE PROPOSAL AS ONE THAT WOULD GIVE TSING YI A VALUABLE FOCAL POINT FOR THE 189,000 PEOPLE WHO WILL LIVE ON THE ISLAND BY THE MID-805.

+TSING YI IS IN THE PROCESS OF A TRANSFORMATION AND WILL BECOME A BALANCED AND SELF-CONTAINED PART OF TSUEN WAN NEW TOWN, HE SAID.

HE NOTED THAT REVISED ESTIMATES SHOW THAT THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE SPENDING UP TO 1980'S $2,426 MILLION ON THE TSING YI DEVELOPMENT ALONE.

SITE FORMATION WORK FOR THE TOWN CENTRE PROJECT WOULD REQUIRE THE RESUMPTION OF 45,617 SQUARE METRES OF AGRICULTURAL LAND AND 422 SQUARE METRES OF BUILDING LAND, THREE MONTHS NOTICE OF WHICH WAS PUBLISHED IN LAST FRIDAY'S GOVERNMENT GAZETTE.

THE RESUMPTION WILL INVOLVE THE CLEARANCE OF 116 TEMPORARY DOMESTIC STRUCTURES OCCUPIED BY 140 FAMILIES. OF THESE STRUCTURES 45 ARE ON CROWN LAND AND THE REMAINDER ON PRIVATE LAND.

IN ADDITION, ANOTHER 157 TEMPORARY STRUCTURES INCLUDING A WORKSHOP, A SHOP, 43 PIGSTIES AND 12 CHICKEN SHEDS WILL HAVE TO BE CLEARED.

MR. HAYES SAID: +DEPENDING ON THEIR ELIGIBILITY, DISPLACED FAMILIES WILL BE OFFERED EITHER PUBLIC HOUSING OR TEMPORARY PUBLIC HOUSING IN TSUEN WAN OR ON TSING YI.

+GENUINE CULTIVATOR FAMILIES MAY OPT FOR A RESITE TOGETHER WITH AN EX-GRATIA REHABILITATION ALLOWANCE OF $5,000 PER FAMILY, BUT WILL FORFEIT THEIR PRIORITY FOR PUELIC HOUSING.+

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