XN000022-1980-01-20 — Page 2

SUNDAY, JANUARY 20, 1980

PRINCESS ALEXANDRA TO VISIT CHEUNG CHAU

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A FIRST EVER VISIT TO CHEUNG CHAU WILL BE PART OF THE PROGRAMME OF HRH PRINCESS ALEXANDRA WHEN SHE SPENDS NINE DAYS IN HONG KONG NEXT MONTH.

THE PRINCESS AND THE HON ANGUS OGILVY WILL RECEIVE A WARM WELCOME FROM THE ISLANDERS ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, THE FINAL DAY OF HER VISIT.

THE ROYAL COUPLE WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY THE GOVERNOR SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, AND THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR DAVID AKERS-JONES.

THE PRINCESS IS DUE TO ARRIVE ON THE LADY MAURINE+ AT CHEUNG CHAU PUBLIC PIER AND TO BE MET BY SEVERAL LOCAL DIGNITARIES. SHE WILL THEN WALK TO THE COUNTRY CLUB FOR LUNCH HOSTED BY MR AKERS-JONES.

ATTENDING THE LUNCH WILL BE A NUMBER OF PROMINENT MEMBERS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES ISLANDS DISTRICT COMMUNITY, INCLUDING THE CHAIRMEN AND VICE-CHAIRMEN OF SEVERAL RURAL COMMITTEES, AS WELL AS OFFICIALS FROM VARIOUS GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

A SOUVENIR TO MARK HER VISIT WILL BE PRESENTED TO PRINCESS ALEXANDRA BY THE CHAIRMAN OF CHEUNG CHAU RURAL COMMITTEE, MR KWONG PING-YAU.

AFTER LUNCH, THE PRINCESS WILL WALK ALONG TUNG WAN BEACH ROAD AND SOME OF THE ISLAND'S BUSY STREETS TO THE ANCIENT PAK TAI TEMPLE. AFTERWARDS, SHE WILL WALK BACK TO THE PIER TO RETURN TO HONG KONG ISLAND.

DESPITE ITS SMALLNESS ONLY 228 HECTARES IN AREA - CHEUNG CHAU IS THE MOST DENSELY POPULATED PART OF THE NEW TERRITORIES ISLANDS DISTRICT WITH 35 000 PEOPLE LIVING THERE.

SETTLEMENT BEGAN MANY CENTURIES AGO WITH THE ARRIVAL OF FISHING PEOPLE FROM THE CHINESE MAINLAND, THE ISLAND PROSPERED AS A HOME BASE FOR FISHING JUNKS UNTIL THE INTRODUCTION OF MECHANISED VESSELS.

WITH INCREASING URBANISATION OF THE NEW TERRITORIES, THE GOVERNMENT HAS EMBARKED ON A $100 MILLION DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME FOR CHEUNG CHAU.

IN THE NORTH OF THE ISLAND 12 HECTARES OF LAND HAVE BEEN FORMED, HALF THROUGH RECLAMATION. ENGINEERING WORKS STARTED IN NOVEMBER, 1978, AND ARE EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN THE MIDDLE OF 1981.

A HILL HAS BEEN REMOVED AND THE FILL USED FOR RECLAMATION ALONG THE EXISTING WATERFRONT.

ON THE RECLAIMED AREA A SITE WILL BE RESERVED FOR A SECOND FERRY PIER TO CATER FOR INCREASED WATERBORNE TRAFFIC. THERE WILL ALSO BE LIGHT INDUSTRIAL AREAS AND SITES FOR BOATYARDS AND VILLAGE-TYPE HOUSING.

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