January_1966 — Page 42

in Borneo Housing Development, Ltd.. which was the Sarawak State Government's chosen vehicle for the pro- vision of medium and low cost housing.

The main low cost housing scheme, for which de- tailed planning had already been undertaken was a com- prehensive home ownership scheme for the lower income group at Sekama Road, Kuching.

"Under this scheme", said the minister, "the State has made available on subsidised terms an area of land amounting to 170 acres which is to be developed to pro- vide a total of 1,098 housing units, 40 shops. 12 service industries. five schools, an open market, a petrol station and a cinema, which will provide accommodation and related facilities for a population of 8.000 persons.

"Out of the total of 1.698 housing units, appro- ximately 600 units will be true low cost housing in the sense that the sale price will be less than M$10,000. The estimated cost of these units is currently M$9,500 each. so that this part of the scheme alone involves an invest- ment of M$5.7 million.”

DRAFT PLAN FOR TSIM SHA TSUI

A PROPOSED layout for the future development of the Tsim Sha Tsui district of Kowloon was made public last month by the Hong Kong Town Planning Board.

This draft Outline Use Zoning Plan, designed to in- tegrate the numerous major proposals for the area, covers a total area of about 482 acres and includes the Whitfield Barracks site as well as the Hung Hom reclamation.

Main proposals which the Board is to recommend for approval by the Governor-in-Council are: 1. Future utilisaton of land on the Hung Hom reclamation: 2. Re- moval of the existing Kowloon-Canton Railway terminal to the Hung Hom reclamation; 3. Development over the new railway terminal of a new bus terminus and ferry concourse, Government and community facilities, com- mercial uses and housing: 3. Provision for the new cross- harbour tunnel portal and plaza in the traffic complex west of the new railway terminal: 5. Development of the land which would become available with removal of the existing railway terminal for residential, commercial and open space purposes: 6. Development of Whitfield Barracks site; 7. Provision of an improved major road system.

The draft outline zoning plan aims at maintaining Tsim Sha Tsui as a centre of many of Hong Kong's im- portant functions. including sea and rail communications,

TO PROVIDE

EAST-WEST LINK

commercial centre, hotels, shopping. entertainment. godowns and cross harbour transport facilities.

Of the 482 acres covered 185.4 acres are reserved for commer- cial, residential and warehousing purposes, 86.5 acres for Government. institutional and community projects, 39.8 acres for public open spaces, 4.5 acres for industrial pur- poses and 34 acres for other purposes including the new railway terminus and bus concourses.

In addition to the areas shown zoned for public open space on the plan, it is intended that one tenth of the residential/commercial areas, which are subject to further detailed planning, should be public open space. One of the features of the draft plan is the provision of an almost continuous waterside promenade from the Star Ferry pier to the proposed railway terminus on the Hung Hom re- clamation. The western part of the Whitfield Barracks area which contains many fine trees, the Blackhead signal station and an area on the eastern side of Chatham Road opposite Mody Road are also earmarked for open spaces.

Another proposal is the extension of the area on the Hung Hom reclamation for the future expansion of the Technical College and other educational institutions. The major portion of the former naval lands and camber is reserved for Government uses requiring access to the waterfront. The remaining portion of these lands is zoned for industrial purposes and restricted to godown use only.

Both Jordan Road and Gascoigne Road will be im- proved to provide a major east-west road across the peninsula while Austin Road will be extended to link up with a proposed north to south road on the western side of the proposed railway terminal. A new north-south road on the western side of the peninsula is also proposed. This will require elevated roads at important junctions,

The bus and ferry concourses at Tsim Sha Tsui would be enlarged to accommodate a revised and more efficient traffic circulation. To reduce congestion at the Star Ferry concourse, a new bus terminus and ferry con- course are proposed on the upper deck level of the new K.C.R. terminus.

A Town Planning Board spokesman said that no provision had yet been made for possible new forms of mass transport that might be recommended by the con- sultants now conducting a feasibility study on behalf of Government.

Copies of the draft plan and an explanatory statement may be obtained from the Superintendent of Crown Lands and Survey, price HK$3 (uncoloured) or $25 (coloured).

NEW

IMPROVED JORDAN

WMPROVED & EXTENDED AUSTIN RD. TO PROVIDE

ROAD TO NORTH

G

FENLARGED BUS &

32

12

FERRY CONCOURSE

WHITFIELD

BARRACKS

NATHAN

ROAD

WIDENED

VICTORIA

HARBOUR

HUNG

HOM ECLAMATION

PROMENADE

.......

WAN CHAI RECLAMATION

CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL TO

NEW ROAD TO NORTH

•

RAILWAY TERMINAL, BUS FERRY CONCOURSE WITH UPPER LEVEL DEVELOPMENT

HUNG HOM BAY

LEGEND

EXISTING DEVELOPMENT

NEW ZONES

HOO

COMMERCIAL /RESIDENTIAL

GOVERNMENT/INSTITUTION / COMMUNITY

PUBLIC OPEN SPACE

INDUSTRIAL (GODOWN USE ONLY)

RAILWAY TERMINAL, BUS & FERRY CONCOURSE MAJOR ROADS

Far East Architect & Builder January, 1966