TNAG-0809-FCO40-1014-Legislation-for-Crown-lands-in-Hong-Kong-1978 — Page 37

C.S. 166

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industries; however, it is possible that this will prompt fresh criticism of the strict selection criteria rightly adopted by the Corporation. Further publicity will be required to explain the criteria in terms of the original purpose of the estate, and the terms and conditions of leasing. As mentioned in paragraph 9 above, only about 25% of the site is private land, which will have to be resumed. The majority of this land falls within Stage III of the industrial estate and will not be required within the first year of the project. As there are few structures on this private land its resumption is unlikely to present a major problem. There will be some opposition on fung shui grounds to the main borrow area and the reservoir site, as they are situated behind the same hill as the two Tang ancestral graves. However, care will be taken to ensure that neither of the graves will be touched, nor will the skyline of the ridge be affected. Bearing in mind that the reservoir must be located at a minimum height of 60 metres and the present location is the only one which can meet this requirement, as much as possible has been done to accommodate the fung shui requirements. The proposed site of the estate is about a kilometre away from the Mai Po marshes on the other side of the San Pui River, and is outside the main feeding grounds of wild birds fre- quenting the area. The fact that the industrial waste from the estate will be required to be treated to high levels (see Annex D) will protect these feeding grounds from contamination by polluted effluent. Thus although some interference with bird and animal life is unavoidable, measures will be taken to keep this to an acceptable minimum.

Advice sought

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Honourable Members will be asked to advise in principle whether, subject to:

(a)

(b)

(c)

the approval of the resumption of private land affected,

the funds for resumption clearance and development being made available to the Corporation by the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council, and

the approval of the basic conditions of grant to the Hong Kong Industrial Estates Corporation,

an industrial estate should be developed at Yuen Long in the area indicated on the plan at Annex B.

(The Director of Trade, Industry and Customs (Acting) (Mr W. DORWARD), the Secretary for Economic Services (Mr D. G. JEAFFRESON) and the Secretary for the New Territories (Mr D. AKERS-JONES) will attend before the Council for the discussion of this item).

6th October 1977 (CR 9/2586/76)

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