XN000022-1985-10-22 — Page 4

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1985

BUT JUST A SHORT DISTANCE AWAY, WHERE THE SINGLE-TRACK RAILWAY BRINGING ORE FROM THE MINE ONCE REACHED THE COAST, A NEW MA ON SHAN IS RAPIDLY RISING.

NO MERE VILLAGE THIS, BUT A TOWN WITH A PROJECTED POPULATION OF 200 000 (AND A POSSIBILITY OF IT EVENTUALLY REACHING 280 000). THE NEW MA ON SHAN IS AN EXTENSION OF THE MASSIVE SHA TIN NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT.

MOST OF THE LAND FOR THE NEW MA ON SHAN HAS BEEN, OR IS STILL BEING, RECLAIMED FROM TOLO HARBOUR. SOME OF THE FILL FOR THE RECLAMATION HAS BEEN THE TAILINGS FROM THE OLD MINE WORKINGS,

THE RECLAMATION MEANS THAT THE SCENIC LOCATION OF THE NEW TOWN WILL BE PRESERVED FOR THE GREEN, SURROUNDING HILLS WILL BE LEFT LARGELY UNTOUCHED.

SET AGAINST AN IMPOSING BACKDROP OF MOUNTAINS AND WOODED SLOPES THE NEW TOWN WILL HAVE EXTENSIVE VIEWS OVER SCENIC TOLO HARBOUR AND PLANNERS HAVE BEEN AT GREAT PAINS TO PRESERVE THESE NATURAL AMENITIES AND MAKE AS MUCH USE AS POSSIBLE OF THE WATERFRONT ACCESS.

AT THE SAME TIME THE DEVELOPMENT IS TAKING FULL ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITIES INHERENT IN THE SEAFRONT LOCATION. PARTICULARLY WITH REGARD TO RESIDENTIAL AND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT REQUIRING DIRECT WATER ACCESS AND FOR RECREATIONAL USES.

THE GOVERNMENT IS SPENDING $593 MILLION ALONE ON RECLAMATION AND FORMATION OF 172 HECTARES OF LAND AT MA ON SHAN. THIS EXPENDITURE INCLUDES THE ROAD NETWORK AND UTILITIES BUT EXCLUDES SUCH MAJOR ITEMS AS RESUMPTION AND CLEARANCE OF LAND, THE SERVICE RESERVOIR, SEWAGE PUMPING STATION, THE CONNECTING ROADS TO SHA TIN PROPER, AND THE COST OF BUILDINGS TO FOLLOW.

IT WILL

THE FIRST PUBLIC HOUSING, HANG ON ESTATE, IS ALREADY BE ING BUILT ON THE FIRST 13 HECTARE SECTION OF LAND RECLAIMED, PROVIDE HOMES FOR 30 740 PEOPLE, THE FIRST OF WHOM WILL START MOVING IN LATE NEXT YEAR.

BUT IT IS NOT PLANNED THAT MA ON SHAN SHOULD BE JUST A GOVERNMENT DORMITORY AREA. THE SENIOR TOWN PLANNER FOR THE PROJECT, MR WARWICK TRIMBLE, SAID: +WE ARE HOPING FOR A HOUSING MIX OF 60 PER CENT GOVERNMENT AND 40 PER CENT PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT.+

MANY PRIVATE DEVELOPERS HAVE ALREADY SHOWN INTEREST AND ONE COMPANY HAS PAID $300 300 300 (TO THEM A PROPITIOUS FIGURE) FOR A 7.4 HECTARE SITE AT TAI SHUI HANG ON THE WESTERN EDGE OF MA ON SHAN. THE SITE WILL EVENTUALLY HOUSE 15 000 PEOPLE IN JUST UNDER 4 000 FLATS. THIS IS ONLY THE FIRST OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION SCHEMES IN MA ON SHAN.

ALTHOUGH THE NEW TOWN IS PLANNED AS PART OF SHA TIN IT WILL HAVE ITS OWN SELF-CONTAINED AMENITIES AND AMONG THESE WILL BE JOBS FOR THE RESIDENTS, ABOUT 18 HECTARES OF LAND WILL BE ZONED FOR INDUSTRIAL USE AT MA ON SHAN AND JOBS WILL BE PROVIDED FOR ABOUT 20 PER CENT OF THE POPULATION.

THE REST