XN000022-1983-10-23 — Page 5

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1983

ON THE LONG-TERM DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR THE WHOLE TERRITORY, HE SAID THAT A DECISION WOULD BE MADE IN THE MIDDLE OF NEXT YEAR AFTER CAREFULLY EXAMINING THE REPORTS ON SUB-REGIONAL STUDIES SUCH AS THE NORTH-EAST NEW TERRITORIES STUDY. THE NORTH-WEST NEW TERRITORIES STUDY, THE HARBOUR AREA STUDY, THE NORTH LANTAU STUDY AND JUNK BAY STUDY.

+ THE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY TO BE FORMULATED WILL MEET THE LONG- TERM NEEDS OF HONG KONG INTO THE 1990S AND THE NEXT CENTURY, HE ADDED.

BETWEEN NOW AND 1990, MR O'RORKE SAID, THE NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT WOULD FORM MORE THAN 2 800 HECTARES OF LAND, BRINGING TO 6 400 HECTARES THE TOTAL AREA OF LAND FORMED SINCE 1973.

ALSO, THE NUMBER OF RESIDENTIAL FLATS BUILT BY BOTH THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS IN THE NEW TOWNS WILL INCREASE FROM THE PRESENT 326 000 TO ABOUT 700 000 FLATS BY 1990.

+WITH THE REVISED POPULATION TARGET FOR THE NEW TOWNS SET AT OVER 3 MILLION, THE NTDD WILL FACE MORE CHALLENGES IN THE YEARS TO COME,+ SAID MR O'RORKE.

GREAT DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL FOR SHAM TSENG

*****

SHAM TSENG, A RURAL AREA IN TSUEN WAN, HAD GREAT DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL, THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MISS ELAINE CHUNG, SAID TODAY (SUNDAY).

SHE POINTED OUT THAT IN RECENT YEARS, THE GOVERNMENT HAD BEEN ATTACHING SIGNIFICANCE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF RURAL AREAS TO COINCIDE WITH POPULATION GROWTH AND COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT.

+AND SHAM TSENG IS ONE OF THE GOVERNMENT'S RURAL DEVELOPMENT TARGETS. EARLY THIS YEAR, THE GOVERNMENT APPOINTED A CONSULTANCY FIRM TO STUDY THE POSSIBILITY OF DEVELOPING THE AREA,+ SHE SAID.

+ACCORDING TO A REPORT SUBMITTED BY THE CONSULTANTS RECENTLY, SHAM TSENG HAS THE POTENTIAL OF BEING DEVELOPED INTO A RESIDENTIAL AREA FOR 60 000 PEOPLE, SHE POINTED OUT.

AND WHEN IT IS DEVELOPED, PROBLEMS SUCH AS TRANSPORT, EDUCATION, RECREATIONAL FACILITIES, WATER SUPPLY AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION WOULD BE GREATLY IMPROVED, SHE SAID.

ANY RESIDENTS OR SHOP OWNERS AFFECTED BY THE DEVELOPMENT WOULD BE LOOKED AFTER, SHE ADDED.

MISS CHUNG WAS SPEAKING AT THE RIBBON-CUTTING AND PRIZE PRESENTATION CEREMONY OF THE TSUEN WAN RURAL AREA DAY HELD AT SHAM TSEN.

/SHE SAID