TNAG-1174-FCO40-1476-Proposed-replacement-airport-for-Hong-Kong-at-Deep-Bay-or-Ch-1982 — Page 73

CONFIDENTIAL

5.5.6

OPTIONS CONSIDERED

: In developing alternative options we have been guided by the large range of potential operating proposals and the resultant noise contours. They have the effect of significanly reducing the former "area of search" and a complete re-iteration of the strategy for major growth in the light of the airport proposals could well have the effect of leading to a redefinition of the search area. In the time available, however, we have limited ourselves principally to considering the possibilities within the reduced area of search. principal options: presented themselves :

i)

ii)

Two

Option A based on the Tin Shui Wai site, the fishponds and foreshore linking round to the Yuen Long Industrial Estate, the Industrial Estate itself and the area extending north of Yuen Long

out to Au Tau

Au Tau (see figure 5.6)

Option B based primarily on the Tin Shui Wai site and platforms of crown land formed by removal of the extreme north eastern parts of the Castle Peak Range for fill with a narrow neck of land linking the two.

For either of these options it is considered that it would be necessary to extend the current pro- posals for low density controlled urbanization in the Tuen Mun-Yuen Long corridor (contained in the Base Strategy) up to the new area for major growth since the intervewing areas will be under sub- stantial and almost irresistible pressure for deve- lopment. This would have the effect of reducing the overall population to be housed in the area for major growth and thus the overall land take.

5.5.7

A further development possibility exists which would re- quire re-examination should an airport proposal in Deep Bay be examined further. At the time of our original work leading to the definition of the area of search, a linear development extending through the corridor and along the Kam Tin valley was considered. This per- formed well except i) on environmental grounds where there were problems regarding loss of amenity as one of the few visually pleasing parts of the study area ii) limtations over development in the vicinity of Shek Kong iii) the lack of crown land to reduce land costs. Both considerations ii) and iii) could be effectively removed if the military base at Shek Kong were to be relocated and the possibility of this form of development would merit further consideration thereby increasing the range of options for the development potential of the North West.

5-22

CONFIDENTIAL