XN000022-1991-10-02 — Page 5

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1991

HE BELIEVED THAT DEVELOPMENT IN THIS AREA WOULD OPEN UP OPPORTUNITIES TO THE PRESENT RESIDENTS THAT HAD NEVER EXISTED BEFORE.

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"ALONG WITH SEWERS AND ROADS WILL COME BETTER ACCESS TO HOSPITALS, SUPERMARKETS, AND THE OTHER BENEFITS OF MODERN LIVING,

HE

ADDED.

FOR TAI O AND SOUTH LANTAU, MR TSAO BELIEVED THAT IMPROVED PUBLIC TRANSPORT TO NORTH LANTAU AND CAREFULLY CONTROLLED DEVELOPMENT, DESIGNED TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT AND ΤΟ ENHANCE RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, WERE THE MOST LIKELY PATTERN FOR THE FUTURE.

HIGHLIGHTING THE POINTS TO CONSIDER IN PROVIDING FREE ACCESS INTO SOUTH LANTAU, HE SAID A MAIN ROAD FROM NORTH то SOUTH LANTAU WOULD BE VERY EXPENSIVE.

HE ADDED THAT THE ATTRACTIONS OF THE AREA AS A RECREATIONAL RESORT WOULD RAPIDLY DIMINISH AS THE ENVIRONMENT WAS UNLIKELY TO BE ABLE TO COPE WITH THE PRESSURES OF PEOPLE, TRAFFIC AND SEWAGE BROUGHT ABOUT BY IMPROVED ACCESS AND THE RESULTANT DEVELOPMENT.

IN MIND WHEN CONSIDERING

"ANOTHER IMPORTANT POINT TO BEAR ACCESS BETWEEN NORTH AND SOUTH LANTAU IS THE FACT THAT THE LANTAU FIXED CROSSING BETWEEN NORTH LANTAU AND THE URBAN ARBA 13 BEING DESIGNED TO SERVE THE PORT AND THE AIRPORT.

"THE COST OF PROVIDING THIS LINK IS SUBSTANTIAL AND ITS CAPACITY IS INEVITABLY LIMITED. IT IS DOUBTFUL WHETHER IT MAKES ANY ECONOMIC SENSE TO PROVIDE FREE ACCESS TO SOUTH LANTAU, MR TSAO SAID.

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TURNING TO DISCOVERY BAY, MR TSAO SAID IN THE LONG TERM, PORT DEVELOPMENT WOULD HAVE A MORE DIRECT IMPACT THERE THAN SOUTH LANTAU.

HE NOTED THAT THE POPULATION THERE, MADE UP LARGELY OF PROFESSIONAL PEOPLE, WOULD BE ABLE TO FIND MANY JOB OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE AIRPORT AND ITS ASSOCIATED BUSINESSES AND INDUSTRY.

BUT, HE SAID, BEFORE THAT HAPPENED, A DECISION WOULD HAVE то BE MADE BETWEEN LEAVING DISCOVERY BAY AS AN ATTRACTIVE PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT OR INTEGRATING IT INTO THE NORTH LANTAU DEVELOPMENT AND ABSORBING IT INTO THE METROPOLITAN PLANS BY GIVING IT A ROAD LINK.

"IF THE LATTER COURSE IS CHOSEN, IT WILL ВЕ A STIMULATING CHALLENGE TO SEE IF SUCH A CHANGE CAN BE PLANNED AND MANAGED IN A WAY THAT PRESERVES MOST OF THE QUALITIES OF THE EXISTING COMMUNITY.

"BUT THEN, STIMULATING CHALLENGES ARE WHAT THE PORT AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT IS ALL ABOUT: PROVIDING NEW POTENTIAL BUSINESS, FOR EMPLOYMENT, FOR HOUSING AND FOR URBAN IMPROVEMENT SO TO MAKE HONG KONG A BETTER PLACE IN WHICH TO LIVE AND WORK INTO NEXT CENTURY," MR TSAO SAID.

AND

FOR AS

THE

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