XN000022-1980-01-30 — Page 15

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 1980

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WORKING GROUP STUDYING PARKING POLICY

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A WORKING GROUP WHICH HAS BEEN STUDYING PARKING POLICY IN GENERAL IN THE LIGHT OF THE PRINCIPLES CONTAINED IN THE WHITE PAPER ON TRANSPORT POLICY IS EXPECTED TO REPORT IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON DEREK JONES TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) WHEN ANSWERING A QUESTION FROM THE HON F.K. HU ON THE PROVISION OF PUBLIC CAR PARKS FOR PASSENGER CARS AND LORRIES.

MR JONES SAID THE GROUP HAD BEEN CONSIDERING IN DETAIL THE PROVISION OF PARKING FACILITIES FOR ALL TYPES OF VEHICLES. INCLUDING PASSENGER CARS AND LORRIES, AND HOW SUCH FACILITIES RELATED TO OTHER TRANSPORT MODES, SUCH AS THE MTR, THE KCR AND FERRIES.

+ITS FINDINGS WILL FIRST BE CONSIDERED BY THE CONCERNED GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND THEY WILL THEN BE SUBMITTED TO THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE, HE SAID.

HE ALSO NOTED THAT AT PRESENT THERE WERE SOME 15 PROJECTS FOR NEW CAR PARKS IN THE PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME WHICH WOULD, IN TOTAL, PROVIDE MORE THAN 8 000 PARKING SPACES.

+THEY WILL PROCEED IN THE NORMAL WAY AS AND WHEN THEY CAN BE GIVEN SUFFICIENT PRIORITY, MR JONES ADDED.

DEVELOPMENT STUDY OF NORTH-WEST NT UNDERWAY

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THE GOVERNMENT IS NOW UNDERTAKING A PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT STUDY OF THE NORTH-WEST OF THE NEW TERRITORIES.

THIS WILL ENABLE DECISIONS TO BE MADE ON THE EXTENT AND TYPES OF DEVELOPMENT THAT CAN BEST BE CARRIED OUT IN THIS AREA, INCLUDING LOW DENSITY DEVELOPMENT IN PLACES WHERE IT CAN BE ACCOMMODATED, THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON DEREK JONES TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

HE WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON LEUNG TAT-SHING WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CONSIDER ENCOURAGING THE DEVELOPMENT OF FURTHER PRIVATE, LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL ESTATES FOR MIDDLE INCOME WAGE EARNERS, SUCH AS THE ESTATE CURRENTLY BEING DEVELOPED AT TAI SANG WAI IN YUEN LONG.

MR JONES SAID THE HEAVY DEMAND FOR HOUSING AND THE SHORTAGE OF LAND HAD GENERALLY COMPELLED GOVERNMENT TO CONCENTRATE MAINLY ON PRODUCING LAND FOR FAIRLY HIGH DENSITY DEVELOPMENT.

THE TAI SANG WAI OR FAIRVIEW PARK DEVELOPMENT, HE SAID, WAS BEING BUILT ON PRIVATE LAND WHICH HAD BEEN CONVERTED FROM AGRICULTURAL TO BUILDING STATUS AND LAY IN AN AREA WHERE MOST OF THE LAND WAS PRIVATELY OWNED AGRICULTURAL LAND.