XN000022-1986-12-12 — Page 13

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 12, 1986

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PEACEFUL TRANSFORMATION OF NEW TOWN

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THE COMMUNITY SPIRIT OF NORTH DISTRICT RESIDENTS HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE DISTRICT FROM A RURAL AREA INTO A MODERN NEW TOWN, THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, DR JAMES HAYES, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).

HE WAS SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR DAVID AKERS-JONES, AT THE GOLDEN JUBILEE CEREMONY OF THE FANLING PUBLIC SCHOOL.

DR HAYES PRAISED THE SCHOOL FOR ITS IMPRESSIVE ENROLMENT OF STUDENTS WHO HAD CONTRIBUTED TO THE GROWTH AND WELL-BEING OF THE COMMUNITY.

+OF NO LESS IMPORTANCE HAS BEEN THE ACTIVE PARTICIPATION OF THE SCHOOL IN GOVERNMENT-SPONSORED ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO CULTIVATE AND ENHANCE A SENSE OF BELONGING TO THE COMMUNITY, HE SAID.

HE POINTED OUT THAT SINCE 1979, FANLING-SHEUNG SHUI HAD UNDERGONE SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENT AND THAT ITS PRESENT POPULATION OF 110 000 WAS EXPECTED TO GROW TO 280 000 ON FULL DEVELOPMENT BEFORE THE TURN OF THE CENTURY.

+FIVE PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES HAVE BEEN PLANNED OF WHICH TWO HAVE ALREADY BEEN COMPLETED.

+THE STEADY GROWTH OF NORTH DISTRICT IS ACCELERATED BY IMPROVEMENTS IN ITS ACCESSIBILITY TO KOWLOON WITH THE ELECTRIFICATION OF THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY AND THE COMPLETION OF THE NEW TERRITORIES CIRCULAR ROAD AS FAR AS SHEUNG SHUI,+ HE SAID.

DR HAYES ALSO NOTED THAT THERE WERE SIGNS THAT THE PRIVATE SECTOR WAS FAST EXPLOITING THE POTENTIAL OF THE DISTRICT FOR COMMERCIAL, RESIDENTIAL AND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT.

+IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY TO ENCOURAGE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT AND TO PRESERVE TRADITIONAL ELEMENTS IN THIS PROCESS, HE SAID.

THE SUCCESS OF THE FANLING PUBLIC SCHOOL IS AN OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE OF THE +NEW+ BUILDING ON THE +OLD+, HE SAID.

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