TNAG-1724-FCO40-2437-Minutes-and-Hansards-of-the-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1988 — Page 44

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which must benefit the rural environment, Government will

be starting works in June on a pilot project costing $11 million for upgrading of roads and construction of sewerage in the San Hing Tsuen area north of Tuen Mun. This will, if successful, become the pattern for similar schemes in Lau Fau Shan (which would cost about $96

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million), Ping Shan ($42 million) and the whole of Yuen Long - Tuen Mun Corridor ($192 million) but none of

these latter schemes would start the early 1990s.

before

However they are piecemeal and the provision of the infrastructure alone is not likely to solve the

environmental problems of these areas. In my speech at the opening of this legislative Session, I stated that the rural hinterland of the New Town required a systematic policy for land planning, use and infrastructural investment, if these areas are to be made and remain decently habitable. I was not simply referring to the odd $35 million programme or other individual public works items I have mentioned, although these are important in bringing about minor improvements in the short term, and in the case of the public works items, very major improvements to specific areas in the future. I meant a much more comprehensive approach. The administration is now planning the policies, machinery and programmes necessary to achieve a proper rural infrastructure and aims to produce proposals for consultation by the end of this year.

As little will be achieved without much more

substantial use of private land than at present, it is clear that the expenditure required will be substantially more than the present provision.

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In the meantime every effort will be made to spend the funds provided to greatest effect and to build up the presently proposed programme of works to a level

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