XN000022-1993-12-15 — Page 21

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1993

TERRITORIAL DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY TO MEET CHALLENGES OF NEXT CENTURY

THE GOVERNMENT FULLY RECOGNISES THE NEED TO PROMOTE THE ECONOMIC WELL-BEING OF HONG KONG AND IMPROVE THE LIVING AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT OF THE COMMUNITY, THE SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS, MR TONY EASON, TOLD THE LEGISLATION COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY),

SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT IN A MOTION DEBATE ON TERRITORIAL DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY (TDS) REVIEW, MR EASON SAID THE IMPORTANCE OF THESE BASIC PRINCIPLES HAD ALL ALONG BEEN FULLY RECOGNISED AND EMBODIED IN THE CURRENT TDS REVIEW.

"IT IS OUR INTENTION TO FORMULATE A TDS TO MEET THE OF THE NEXT CENTURY," HE SAID.

MR EASON SAID THE KEY ISSUES TO BE ADDRESSED IN THE WIDE-RANGING.

CHALLENGES

TDS

WERE

"OUR

PLANNING

PRIMARY GOAL IS TO ESTABLISH A BROAD, LONG-TERM FRAMEWORK WITHIN WHICH THE NECESSARY LAND AND INFRASTRUCTURE CAN BE PROVIDED, HAVING REGARD TO RESOURCE AVAILABILITY, TO ENABLE HONG KONG TO CONTINUE TO GROW AS A REGIONAL AND AN INTERNATIONAL CITY AND BECOME A BETTER PLACE IN WHICH TO LIVE AND WORK.

THE TWO KEY ISSUES WHICH ARE THE SUBJECTS OF THIS MOTION DEBATE, NAMELY, HOW TO PROMOTE THE LONG-TERM PROSPERITY AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG, ARE CERTAINLY IMPORTANT AND FUNDAMENTAL AIMS OF THE CURRENT TDS REVIEW.

MR EASON SAID THE TDS HAD IDENTIFIED SEVERAL POTENTIAL NEW GROWTH AREAS, INCLUDING TSEUNG KWAN O, KOWLOON BAY, TIN SHUI WAI, KAM TIN AND TUNG CHUNG.

MOST

"IT

WILL EVALUATE THESE AREAS TO ESTABLISH WHICH ARE THÈ SUITABLE TO DEVELOP FROM BROAD LAND USE, TRANSPORT AND ENVIRONMENTAL POINTS OF VIEW, TAKING ACCOUNT OF FINANCIAL, ECONOMIC AND OTHER

RELATED FACTORS.

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ON THE QUALITY OF LIFE, MR EASON SAID, THE TDS UPON COMPLETION WILL MAKE BROAD PROPOSALS WHICH DIRECTLY AND INDIRECTLY AFFECT THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF THE HONG KONG PEOPLE.

TO ENSURE A BETTER LIVING ENVIRONMENT, NEW TOWN STANDARDS WILL APPLY WHEREVER PRACTICAL IN THE PLANNING OF NEW URBAN AREAS AND MAJOR REDEVELOPMENT SCHEMES.

IMPORTANT QUALITATIVE

MR EASON SAID CONSERVATION WAS ANOTHER ELEMENT OF THE STRATEGY AND AREAS OF HIGH LANDSCAPE VALUE AND ECOLOGICALLY SENSITIVE AREAS WOULD BE CONSERVED.

FOR EXAMPLE, A TOTAL OF ABOUT 7,000 HECTARES OF LAND HAS IDENTIFIED AS POSSIBLE COUNTRY PARK EXTENSION AREAS.

BEEN

/MR EASON

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