XN000022-1994-06-15 — Page 17

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15, 1994

NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT ASSURED

THE GOVERNMENT WILL PROVIDE AND DEPLOY RESOURCES TO IMPLEMENT COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT BOTH IN THE NEW TOWNS AND OTHER DEVELOPABLE AREAS TO MEET THE NEEDS AND ASPIRATIONS OF THE COMMUNITY, THE SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS, MR TONY EASON, SA1D TODAY (

(WEDNESDAY).

SPEAKING AT A LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MOTION DEBATE ON PLANNING FOR NEW TOWNS, MR EASON SAID THE GOVERNMENT WOULD ALSO CONTINUE TO REFINE ITS PROGRAMMES IN CONSULTATION WITH THE PUBLIC, THROUGH DISTRICT BOARDS, STATUTORY PLANNING AND OTHER MECHANISMS.

MR EASON SAID OF HONG KONG'S SIX MILLION POPULATION, 2.5 MILLION WERE NOW LIVING IN THE EIGHT NEW TOWNS, AND WHEN THE NEW TOWN PROGRAMME WAS COMPLETED IN 10 TO 15 YEARS' TIME. IT WOULD HAVE A TARGET POPULATION OF 3.5 MILLION.

"THE FIRST GENERATION NEW TOWNS SUCH AS TSUEN WAN, SHA TIN AND TUEN MUN ARE NEARING COMPLETION. THE SECOND GENERATION ONES SUCH AS ΤΑΙ PO, YUEN LONG AND SHEUNG SHUI/FANLING WILL BE LARGELY COMPLETED BY THE END OF THE 1990S. TSEUNG KWAN O AND TIN SHUI WAI ARE MAKING GOOD PROGRESS AND TUNG CHUNG IS AT ITS BEGINNING."

HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT FIRST LAUNCHED THE NEW TOWN PROGRAMME IN THE 1970S WHEN HONG KONG FACED A PROBLEM THAT THREATENED TO OVERWHELM IT: THE POPULATION OF THE SMALL TERRITORY WAS GROWING AT AN ALARMING RATE AND HOUSING WAS IN SHORT SUPPLY.

THEREFORE

TO OF

HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT'S PRIMARY OBJECTIVE WAS OPEN UP THE SPARSELY POPULATED AREAS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES NORTH THE KOWLOON HILLS AND DEVELOPED THEM INTO SELF-SUFFICIENT NEW CITIES.

DRAWING UP THE MASTER PLAN FOR A NEW TOWN, FACTORS SUCH AS HOUSING MIX POPULATION LEVEL. RMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES TRANSPORTATION NEEDS, PROVISION

INFRASTRUCTURE AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES NEED TO BE CAREFULLY ASSESSED AND CONSIDERED."

"WHEN

OF

HE NOTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD ADOPTED THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES OF BALANCED DEVELOPMENT AND SELF-CONTAINMENT WHEN THE PROVISION OF COMMUNITY FACILITIES, SUCH AS SCHOOLS, AND OPEN SPACE AND RECREATION FACILITIES.

PLANNING CLINICS

MR EASON SAID SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEW TOWN PROGRAMME WAS ALSO A RESULT OF JOINT EFFORTS OF BOTH THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS.

SITES

"THE GOVERNMENT SETS THE SCENE THROUGH THE PROVISION OF WITH SUPPORTING FACILITIES AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR IS ABLE TO BUILD PRIVATE HOUSING AND TO PROVIDE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, HE SAID.

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