XN000022-1983-05-12 — Page 2

THURSDAY, MAY 12, 1983

CHIEF SECRETARY VISITS SOUTHERN DISTRICT

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THE ABERDEEN RECLAMATION PROJECT WHICH IS BEING IMPLEMENTED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE EXPANDING POPULATION IN THE AREA, HAS REACHED THE HALF-WAY MARK.

THE WHOLE PROJECT WILL PROVIDE 18.5 HECTARES OF ADDITIONAL LAND ON BOTH SIDES OF THE TYPHOON SHELTER FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A WATERFRONT ROAD LINKING SHEK PAI WAN AND THE ABERDEEN TUNNEL, AN OFF-STREET BUS TERMINUS, DISTRICT OPEN SPACE, GOVERNMENT AND OTHER COMMUNITY FACILITIES.

TODAY, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, INSPECTED THE PROGRESS OF WORKS DURING A BOAT TOUR OF THE ABERDEEN HARBOUR, ACCOMPANIED BY THE DEPUTY REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR HONG KONG AND KOWLOON, MR ALBERT LAM AND THE DISTRICT OFFICER (SOUTHERN), MR K.C. KWONG.

MR KWONG POINTED OUT THAT THE RECLAMATION PROJECT BEGAN IN 1976 AND ITS PHASED IMPLEMENTATION WOULD SPREAD OVER A PERIOD OF 15 YEARS.

WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HOUSING IN ABERDEEN AND AP LEI CHAU, THE TOTAL POPULATION IN THE AREA NOW STANDS AT 80 000 AND IT IS EXPECTED TO GROW TO SOME 120 000 BY 1989 WITH THE COMPLETION OF THE SECOND PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATE ON AP LE CHAU.

THE MAMMOTH RECLAMATION PROJECT IS NECESSARY FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICES IN THE AREA IN ORDER TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE INCREASING POPULATION.

THE PROJECT WILL INVOLVE THE CLEARANCE OF THOUSANDS OF SQUATTERS AND A NUMBER OF OPERATORS OF BOAT YARDS, SAWMILLS AND MARINE ENGINE REPAIR WORKSHOPS WHO WILL BE REHOUSED OR REPROVISIONED ACCORDING TO THEIR ELIGIBILITY.

SIR PHILIP WAS PLEASED TO LEARN THAT THE MAJORITY OF ELIGIBLE SQUATTERS AFFECTED WOULD BE REHOUSED LOCALLY AND WORKSHOP OPERATORS REPROVISIONED IN THE VICINITY.

HE SAID: THE SOCIAL PROBLEMS CREATED BY THE CLEARANCE IS ENORMOUS. I AM PLEASED TO SEE THE HIGH DEGREE CF CO-OPERATION AND CO-ORDINATION AMONG THE DISTRICT OFFICE, HOUSING, SOCIAL WELFARE, MARINE, POLICE AND PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENTS IN HELPING THE AFFECTED PEOPLE TO OVERCOME THE SOCIAL DISLOCATION AND ADJUSTMENT PROBLEMS.+

THE CHIEF SECRETARY LATER VISITED OTHER AREAS IN ABERDEEN AND AP LEI CHAU TO SEE VARIOUS DEVELOPMENT AND DISTRICT MANAGEMENT PROJECTS.

THE SIDE STREETS IN ABERDEEN HAD, FOR MANY YEARS, BEEN CLOGGED UP WITH STATIC AND MOBILE HAWKERS WHC VIRTUALLY CLOSED THE STREET TO VEHICULAR TRAFFIC.

WITH THE