XN000022-1980-05-07 — Page 5

WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 1980

4

-

+NEGLECTED+ TSUEN WAN VILLAGE TO RECEIVE ATTENTION

*****

A CONSULTANTS' REPORT IS BEING EVALUATED FOR A VILLAGE AREA IN NORTH TSUEN WAN WHICH HAS, TO QUOTE THE TOWN MANAGER, MR JAMES HAYES, +BEEN NEGLECTED FOR A LONG TIME.+

THE VILLAGE IS LO WAI FOR WHICH MR HAYES SAID AN OUTLINE ZONING PLAN WAS IN PREPARATION, A HIGH-LEVEL WATER SCHEME WAS UNDER INVESTIGATION AND AN INTER-DEPARTMENTAL MANAGEMENT SCHEME WAS UNDER CONSIDERATION.

MR HAYES OUTLINED THESE PLANS TODAY (WEDNESDAY) DURING A VISIT TO WESTERN MONASTERY, A BUDDHIST INSTITUTION LOCATED IN THE VILLAGE.

ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THERE HAD BEEN NEGLECT, HE SAID CLEARANCE, PLANNING, DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION WORK ON MAJOR PUBLIC PROJECTS IN TSUEN WAN SUCH AS THE MTR EXTENSION AND MANY OTHER NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT SCHEMES HAD MEANT THAT SPECIALIST OFFICERS HAD NOT YET BEEN ABLE TO GIVE THE AREA THE CLOSE ATTENTION IT DESERVED.

+HOWEVER THINGS ARE IMPROVING, AND THE LO WAI AREA IS NOW BEGINNING TO RECEIVE ITS DUE MEASURE OF ATTENTION, HE SAID.

+AS A FIRST MODEST STEP, CONSTRUCTION OF A CARPARK FOR ABOUT 40 VEHICLES WILL START BY THE END OF 1980 AND THIS PROJECT IS DUE FOR COMPLETION A YEAR FROM NOW.

HE SAID IT WAS ALSO INTENDED THAT YUEN YUEN INSTITUTE, WESTERN MONASTERY AND OTHER MAJOR INSTITUTIONS WOULD HAVE ROAD ACCESS AND PARKING THAT WOULD TAKE INTO ACCOUNT EXTRA NEEDS DURING FESTIVAL TIMES.

HE SAID THAT CLEANING THE SAM DIP TAM STREAM AND BEAUTIFYING ITS BANKS HAD BEEN INCLUDED IN THE PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME.

IT WAS INTENDED THAT WHERE POSSIBLE INDIVIDUAL MONASTERIES AND TEMPLES BE GIVEN LARGER AREAS OF LAND BY TAKING IN ADJACENT UNUSED PLOTS SO THAT THEY MIGHT ADD TO AND IMPROVE SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC AND PROVIDE MORE AMENITIES FOR LOCAL PEOPLE AND OTHER VISITORS.

MR HAYES SAID ALL THE PLANS WOULD COME ABOUT GIVEN THE NECESSARY PERIOD OF TIME, SUSTAINED INTEREST ON THE PART OF GOVERNMENT OFFICERS, AND CLOSE LIAISON WITH LOCAL PEOPLE AND THE PREPARATION OF DEVELOPMENT PLANS IN CONSULTATION WITH THEM.

HE WARNED HOWEVER THAT THE NATURE OF TERRAIN AND EXISTING LAND USE IMPOSED RESTRICTIONS ON WHAT COULD BE DONE WHEREAS THE RATE AT WHICH THE WORK COULD PROCEED HAD NECESSARILY TO BE CONDITIONED BY THE AMOUNT OF FUNDS MADE AVAILABLE.

15

-