XN000022-1979-10-10 — Page 21

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1979

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MORE LAND TO BE PUT ON MARKET

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THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, SAID TODAY AT LEAST 40 NET HECTARES OF INDUSTRIAL AND 80 HECTARES OF NON-INDUSTRIAL LAND WILL HAVE BEEN PUT ON THE MARKET BEFORE MARCH 31, 1982.

SPEAKING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, SIR MURRAY SAID THE INDUSTRIAL LAND SHOULD YIELD SOME 3 500 000 SQUARE METRES OF INDUSTRIAL FLOOR SPACE, OR AN ADDITION OF ABOUT 45 PER CENT TO THE PRESENT STOCK. THE NON-INDUSTRIAL LAND, HE ADDED, HAS A POTENTIAL FOR ABOUT 55 000 FLATS OF VARIOUS SIZES BESIDES OFFICES AND OTHER COMMERCIAL PREMISES.

SIR MURRAY SAID THE INDUSTRIAL LAND WAS IN ADDITION TO THE HONG KONG INDUSTRIAL ESTATES CORPORATION'S PRODUCTION, AND THE LARGE AREAS BEING FORMED FOR THE TWO NEW POWER STATIONS AT TAP SHEK KOK AND LAMMA ISLAND, AS WELL AS THE SITES UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR HIGH CLASS HOUSING,

THESE LAND PRODUCTION FIGURES ARE GREATER THAN THOSE ACHIEVED IN THE PAST, SIR MURRAY SAID, BUT THERE WAS A NEED TO MAKE FURTHER PLANS NOW TO OPEN UP NEW DEVELOPMENT AREAS TO PROVIDE A CONTINUOUS SUPPLY OF LAND FOR PUBLIC HOUSING AND FOR THE SALES PROGRAMMES IN THE YEARS AHEAD.

+IF CONTINUITY IS TO BE MAINTAINED, IT WILL BE NECESSARY TO START WORK SOON ON BOTH AN EXTENSION OF SHA TIN UP THE EASTERN SIDE OF THE COVE, AND ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF JUNK BAY,+ HE SAID.

SIR MURRAY SAID IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO SAY AT THIS STAGE TO WHAT EXTENT RESOURCES FOR THESE DEVELOPMENTS WOULD CONFLICT WITH THOSE FOR OTHER WORKS WHICH HAVE BEEN REPHASED OR ARE OF HIGH PRIORITY.

+BUT CLEARLY FAILURE TO SPEND NOW ON LAND PRODUCTION WOULD SERIOUSLY RESTRICT OUR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT. NORTH LANTAU, OF COURSE, REMAINS AN ULTIMATE POSSIBILITY BUT WE AWAIT THÉ CONSULTANTS' REPORT, HE ADDED.

REVIEW OF HK'S TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS

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THE GOVERNOR SIR MURRAY MACLE HOSE, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) SAID THE OPENING OF THE ABERDEEN TUNNEL, WHEN COMPLETED BY MID-1981, WOULD DRAMATICALLY IMPROVE ACCESS BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES OF HONG KONG ISLAND.

IT WOULD ALSO HAVE A SIGNIFICANT EFFECT ON DEVELOPMENT POSSIBILITIES ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF HONG KONG ISLAND, SIR MURRAY SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

THE FIRST STAGE OF THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY HAS ALREADY OPENED ON TIME AND WITHIN THE BUDGET, HE POINTED OUT.

/+THE SECOND