XN000022-1990-03-22 — Page 4

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THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 1990

MR HSU SAID THE IMPROVEMENT STRATEGY,

TOGETHER WITH THE NEW

DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY, DEVELOPMENTS IN THE NT IN THE NEXT

TOWN DEVELOPMENT PLAN AND THE PORT AND AIRPORT WOULD BE THE MAIN FEATURE OF

DECADE.

NOTING THAT NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENTS IN THE NT HAVE MADE SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS SINCE THE EARLY 1970'S, HE POINTED OUT THAT THERE WAS A NEED TO IMPROVE THE GENERAL ENVIRONMENT AND LIVING CONDITIONS IN THE RURAL AREAS, MOST OF WHICH ARE LOCATED OUTSIDE NEW TOWNS.

"THE GOVERNMENT, THEREFORE, ANNOUNCED THE RURAL PLANNING AND IMPROVEMENT STRATEGY LAST SUMMER FOR PUBLIC CONSULTATION. A LOT OF PUBLIC VIEWS HAD BEEN RECEIVED, INDICATING THAT IT WAS WIDELY WELCOMED BY NT RESIDENTS, HE ADDED.

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A MAJOR COMPONENT OF THE IMPROVEMENT STRATEGY WAS GIVING PRIORITY TO CARRYING OUT IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE ACCESS ROADS, FOOTPATHS, RECREATION FACILITIES AND WATER SUPPLY, MR HSU SAID.

ANOTHER COMPONENT WAS LAND USE PLANNING AND POLICY, WHICH WOULD NOT ONLY PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES AND LAND WITH BASIC FACILITIES TO MEET DEVELOPMENT NEEDS BUT ALSO PREVENT, AMONG OTHER THINGS, POLLUTION AND FLOODING.

"A 10-YEAR PLAN HAS

BEEN

MAPPED OUT UNDER THE IMPROVEMENT STRATEGY, AND THE BUDGET OF THE VARIOUS IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS WILL AMOUNT TO $4 BILLION.

"IN THE FIRST FOUR YEARS, THE AUTHORITIES WILL SPEND ABOUT $600 MILLION ON VARIOUS IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, INCLUDING EXPANSION AND DEVELOPMENT OF VILLAGES, SEWERAGE AND SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANTS, IMPROVED VILLAGE ACCESS AND ROAD MAINTENANCE.

"THE AUTHORITIES WILL ALSO GIVE PRIORITY TO DEALING WITH THE URGENT PROBLEMS RELATING TO FLOODING AND THE PROBLEM OF AGRICULTURAL LAND IN THE NORTHWESTERN AND NORTHEASTERN PARTS OF THE NT BEING USED AS OPEN WAREHOUSES.

"TO MEET THE NEEDS OF MANUFACTURERS, THE GOVERNMENT WILL CONSIDER DESIGNATING AREAS FOR THESE OPEN WAREHOUSES, MR HSU ADDED.

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TURNING то NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENTS, MR HSU SAID A THIRD INDUSTRIAL ESTATE HAD BEEN PLANNED FOR JUNK BAY, AND THAT WORK WOULD BE UNDERWAY IN TUEN MUN IN THE COMING YEARS TO FACILITATE DEVELOPMENTS.

"THE NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT PLAN IS EXPECTED TO BE THE MIDDLE OF THE 1990'S, AND SO FAR ITS EXPENDITURE ABOUT $25 BILLION,

INDUSTRIAL

COMPLETED

IN

AMOUNTED ΤΟ

/"IT IS