XN000022-1980-12-14 — Page 4

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1980

PWD OFFICE SET UP TO COORDINATE KWUN TONG DEVELOPMENT

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THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT IS THIS WEEK SETTING UP A NEW NORTHEAST KOWLOON DEVELOPMENT OFFICE IN KWUN TONG TO CO-ORDINATE THE CONSTRUCTION OF VARIOUS PROJECTS IN THE AREA AND IN THE NEIGHBOURING WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT.

THIS WAS DISCLOSED BY MR BRYAN O'RORKE, URBAN AREA DEVELOPMENT ADVISER OF THE PWD, AT A CONCERT GIVEN THIS EVENING BY THE KWUN TONG CHILDREN'S CHOIR AT THE +KWUN TONG TODAY+ FESTIVAL.

MR O'RORKE SAID THAT THE NEW OFFICE WITH STAFF FROM VARIOUS PROFESSIONS WOULD BE HEADED BY DR NIP KAM-FAN AS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER. IT WOULD JOIN THE DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE IN THE GOVERNMENT'S NEW DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION ARRANGEMENTS.

MR O'RORKE SAID VISITORS TO THE +KWUN TONG TODAY+ EXHIBITION AT THE KWUN TONG MTR STATION COULD SEE HOW THE TOWN HAS GROWN OVER THE PAST 25 YEARS TO BECOME THE PRESENT THRIVING COMMUNITY WHERE MORE THAN 650 000 PEOPLE LIVE AND WORK.+

REFERRING TO FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS IN THE KWUN TONG AND KOWLOON BAY AREAS, HE SAID THEY WOULD INVOLVE THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT VERY HEAVILY IN TOWN PLANNING, LAND SALES AND APPROVING NEW PRIVATE BUILDING PLANS.

THERE WOULD ALSO BE ROADS, PUBLIC BUILDINGS FOR FACILITIES SUCH AS FIRE STATIONS, CONSTRUCTION OF CAR PARKS, LAW COURTS, CLINICS AND POLICE STATIONS AND PARKS, PLAYGROUNDS, MARKETS AND THE LIKE FOR THE URBAN COUNCIL.

MR O'RORKE POINTED OUT THAT ALTOGETHER MORE THAN 100 NEW CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS COSTING SEVERAL HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS WERE IN HAND OR PLANNED BY THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT IN KWUN TONG.

THE RESULT OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NEW OFFICE, HE SAID, WOULD BE THAT THE VARIOUS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES AS WELL AS PUBLIC WORKS MAINTENANCE AND IMPROVEMENTS WOULD BE CARRIED OUT AS EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY AS POSSIBLE AND IN RESPONSE TO REGIONAL AND LOCAL NEEDS.

HE HOPED KWUN TONG RESIDENTS WOULD FIND THE NEW OFFICE USEFUL.

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