XN000022-1979-03-30 — Page 7

FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 1979

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DR. THONG SAID THAT PROGRESS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST TB HAS BEEN STEADY RATHER THAN SPECTACULAR.

ONE OF THE REASONS FOR THIS MUST BE THE VERY HIGH POPULATION DENSITY IN HONG KONG WITH ITS INCREASED RISK OF INFECTION.

· AM GLAD TO SAY THAT THE LEVEL OF TUBERCULOSIS IN THE VAST NEW HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS REMAINS BELOW THAT OF THE GENERAL POPULATION, HE SAID,

+I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THE BETTER HOUSING WHICH IS BEING PROVIDED AND THE GENERAL RISE IN THE STANDARD OF LIVING IS CONTRIBUTING TO THE DECREASE IN TUBERCULOSIS,+ HE ADDED.

TENDERS INVITED FOR NEW TOWN PROJECTS

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THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT TODAY (FRIDAY) INVITED TENDERS FOR SITE FORMATION, ROAD AND DRAINAGE WORKS IN VARIOUS PARTS OF SHA TIN NEW TOWN.

THE WORKS FORM PART OF THE NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME.

MR. K.T. KUO, CHIEF ENGINEER OF THE SHA TIN NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT OFFICE, SAID 31 HECTARES OF LAND WOULD BE FORMED UNDER THE CONTRACT.

OF THESE, 14.7 HECTARES WILL BE FOR PUBLIC HOUSING 1.3 HECTARES FOR PRIVATE HOUSING 10 HECTARES FOR GOVERNMENT, INSTITUTION AND COMMUNITY USES AND FIVE HECTARES FOR COMMERCIAL- RESIDENTIAL USES.

MR. KUO SAID THE LAND FORMED WOULD ENABLE ACCOMMODATION TO BE PROVIDED FOR SOME 46,000 PEOPLE IN PUBLIC AND 22,600 IN PRIVATE HOUSING.

THE CONTRACT, HE ADDED, WOULD ALSO INVOLVE THE CONSTRUCTION OF A TRUNK SEWER, SURFACE WATER DRAINAGE, FIVE BOX CULVERTS AND PART OF A RIVER WALL.

WORK IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN IN JUNE AND WILL TAKE ABOUT 27 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.

THE PROJECT WAS DESIGNED, AND CONSTRUCTION WILL BE SUPERVISED, BY MAUNSELL CONSULTANTS ASIA, CONSULTING ENGINEERS FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.

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