From 120,000 to 1,000,000 people by 1978
DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR
THE TSUEN WAN AREA
NCREASE in the population of Tsuen Wan and district from its present total of about 120,000 today to a total of over 1.000.000 in 1978 is envisaged in the Tsuen Wan and District Outline Development Plan issued by the Hong Kong Govern- ment last month.
The Plan. prepared by the Govern ment's Planning Division, embraces the town of Tsuen Wan. Kwai Chung and Tsing Yi. an area of some 10 square miles on the south-west coast of the New Territories.
Until 1930 the district contained about 13 villages, whose inhabitants Were occupied in farming and fishing. Early in the 1930s a num her of manufacturing industries were started in the area and by 1961 there were 247 industrial establishments with a labour force of 23.732 workers.
Housing development did not keep; pace with the increase in industry and the 1961 census indicated that some 58.000 people were inadequa- tely housed. It is estimated that there is a need today for new per- manent homes for some 150.000 people.
During this period of expansion the use and layout of land was con- trolled by development plans prepar ed in the Public Works Department. In 1958 engineering consultants were appointed to investigate the possibili- ty of reclaiming Kwai Chung Bay by use of material from adjoining hill- sides. Their report was accepted by the Government and they were in- structed to prepare a detailed scheme.
In view of this growth and the relation of the district to the area extending from Lai Chi Kok Bay to Ting Kau, the Governor directed that a development plan. in accordance with the Town Planning Ordinance,
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be prepared in order to provide a statutory land use pattern and major road framework. The plan prepared is designed to illustrate the broad principles of development
development within the planning area while permitting maximum flexibility in detail.
THE PLAN
Basic conceptions in the plan are: to provide additional land for indus trial development within the frame- work of a balanced land use pattern designed to allow people to live within a reasonable distance of their place of work;
To estimate the population and intensities of land use SO as to enable adequate public services to be provided in the most economical
manner:
To provide reasonable community facilities for the welfare and well- bring of an estimated population of 1.200.000; and
To make provision for satisfactory lines of communication.
Main works involved in the plan- ning are the:
Reclamation of Tsuen Wan and Kwai Chung Bays, the first of which has already been largely completed;
Terracing of adjoining hillsides to provide fill for the reclamations and to form land suitable for develop ment; and
Improvement of existing and the provision of new lines of communica- tion.
Studies of existing developments in the Colony led to the adoption certain standards of residential den- sity, ratios of industrial workers to total population and density of workers on industrial land.
it
With these standards in mind became clear that industrial develop ment had outpaced housing to such a degree as to require a heavy volume of commuting of workers from Kow- loon.
"Commuting is economically wasteful and socially destructive". the Plan points out. "and the Town Planning Board decided as a matter of policy that. as far as land zoning was concerned, adequate housing land should be provided to enable workers to live within walk- ing distance of their places of work.
use
"In accordance with this policy and contrary to recent practice else- where considerable areas of re- claimed land are set aside for re- sidential and associated uses. It has also been necessary to look across Rambler Channel to the northeast portion of Tsing Yi island to provide additional residential lance the employment potential of the industrial zones".
areas to
ba-
The land allocated under the plan for residential zones and the densi- ties are given on the map with this article. More detailed breakdowns are being prepared.
A few villages will have to be moved under the Plan. but it is ex- pected that many of them will re- main
where they are to develop normally within reasonable limits.
Focal points of development will be Tsuen Wan, Kwai Chung and Tsing Yi. where central zones will be located. The Tsuen Wan cen- tral zone will become the predomin- ant focal point because of its earlier development from an existing nucleus of older villages and shops. and the proposed location of Goy- ernment offices, a central bus station, the ferry pier, the central market. out-patients clinic and existing and
THE HONG KONG & FAR EAST BUILDER-VOLUME 18. NUMBER 6
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