XN000022-1979-03-06 — Page 5

TUESDAY, MARCH 6, 1979

+WITH HONG KONG'S RISING STANDARD OF LIVING AND PEOPLE'S INCREASED EXPECTATIONS, THE FLATS ARE DESIGNED TO FULFIL THE REQUIREMENTS OF A MORE DEMANDING GENERATION.

+DENSITY IS ABOUT 2,470 PEOPLE TO ONE HECTARE COMPARED WITH UP TO 7,000 PEOPLE TO THE HECTARE IN THE OLDER ESTATES IN THE URBAN AREAS.+

WHILE GIVING TOP PRIORITY TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEW TOWNS, THE GOVERNMENT IS MAINTAINING A RURAL BALANCE, ENSURING THAT PART OF THE NEW TERRITORIES WILL CONTINUE TO BE USED FOR FARMING TO HELP SUPPLY SOME OF HONG KONG'S DAILY MARKET NEEDS.

LARGE EXPANSES OF COUNTRYSIDE HAVE BEEN DESIGNATED AS COUNTRY PARKS WHERE PEOPLE CAN ENJOY THE TRANQUILLITY AND BEAUTY OF NATURAL SURROUNDINGS.

IN THE NEW TOWNS THEMSELVES, SPECIAL EMPHASIS HAS BEEN PLACED ON LANDSCAPING TO GIVE STREETS, SQUARES AND RIVER BANKS A PLEASING APPEARANCE. THERE ARE SPORTSGROUNDS FOR THE YOUNG AND ENERGETIC, AND OPEN SPACES FOR STROLLING UNDER THE TREES OR PICNICKING ON THE GRASS.

+DURING THE PLANNING OF THE NEW TOWNS, MUCH THOUGHT WAS GIVEN TO THE QUESTION OF TRANSPORT, THE YEAR BOOK SAYS.

+THE CENTRES ARE BEING LINKED WITH OTHER REGIONS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES, KOWLOON AND HONG KONG ISLAND BY A MODERN ROAD NETWORK ON WHICH MUCH PROGRESS HAS ALREADY BEEN MADE.

+DOUBLE-TRACKING AND ELECTRIFICATION IS PROCEEDING ON THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY AND THE TSUEN WAN EXTENSION OF THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY WILL BE OPERATING BY THE END OF 1982.

+GREATER USE OF BICYCLES IS BEING ENCOURAGED, WITH SPECIAL PATHS BOTH FOR RECREATION AND GOING TO WORK AT THE LOCAL FACTORY OR OFFICE.+

THE YEAR BOOK EXPLAINS THAT, AS THE BUILDING OF THE NEW TOWNS PROCEEDS, CARE IS BEING EXERCISED TO ENSURE THAT THE CENTRES ARE CO-ORDINATED UNITS, NOT ONLY PROVIDING HOUSING BUT OTHER NECESSARY AMENITIES AT THE SAME TIME.

THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEW CENTRES HAS ALSO VARIED ACCORDING TO EACH AREA'S HISTORY AND PREVIOUS GROWTH PATTERNS. IN BUILDING THE NEW, IT WAS ESSENTIAL THAT THE MOST WORTHWHILE FEATURES OF THE OLD WERE PRESERVED. CONSEQUENTLY, THESE AREAS WILL NOT LOSE THE IR TRADITIONAL WALLED VILLAGES, PEACEFUL TEMPLES AND QUIET PATHWAYS AMONG WOODED HILLS.

SAYS.

+THE NEW TOWN SCHEME HAS SEVERAL OBJECTIVES, HONG KONG 1979

+IT WILL HELP SOLVE THE HOUSING PROBLEM- ATTRACT INDUSTRY TO NEW AREAS AND ALLEVIATE HONG KONG'S GENERAL PROBLEMS OF CONGESTION BY DIFFUSING THE PRESSURES OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT.

/+ITS IMPLEMENTATION