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Taking all growth needs into account, the TDS Review estimates that Hong Kong will need about 3,000 hectares of land - 50 per cent for urban uses and another 50 per cent for port activities - to meet the development needs by 2011.

Mr Leung said: "The 3,000 hectares of land over the long-term is equivalent to about 2.5 times the size of the new airport at Chek Lap Kok."

The TDS Review also recommends a medium-term strategy to meet housing and other needs for about one million people by 2006.

"In the TDS Review, we have considered very carefully all possible options including those which give more emphasis either on NT development or harbour reclamation.

"Having considered all relevant factors including land use, transport and environment, we have come to the view that neither a 'NT-biased' nor 'harbour biased' approach would satisfy Hong Kong's development needs.

"This is because both the Metro Area and New Territories have their own particular social and economic problems that need to be addressed in a positive way.

"In order to meet our fast development needs, the Review recommends a balanced approach in forming new land from the Metro Area and New Territories," said Mr Leung.

To achieve the above, a number of possible growth or development areas have been identified. They include Kai Tak-Kowloon Bay, Green Island Reclamation, Central and Wanchai Reclamation, Hong Kong Island South, Tsuen Wan Bay Reclamation, Tung Chung, Tseung Kwan O, Yuen Long South, Au Tau-Kam Tin, Whitehead, Lok Ma Chau/San Tin, rural NWNT, Tuen Mun-Yuen Long Corridor, Fanling North and Border Area.

"It will take a long lead time to produce new land and infrastructure as recommended in the Review. We need to consider views expressed in the public consultation and to commission a series of studies to assess various aspects of the development proposals before we can decide on the way forward," said Mr Leung.

The TDS Review reaffirms the recommendation in the third review of the white paper on the environment that a study on sustainable development in the 21st century should be commissioned as soon as possible to assess the various impacts of continuing development on the environment.