TNAG-2351-FCO40-3421-Visits-by-Lord-Caithness--Minister-of-State-for-Foreign-and--1991 — Page 102

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which has been earmarked for a second power station, and in

Area 38 where an additional 100 ha will be reclaimed to

provide land for various special

steel mill, and a river port.

industries including a

In the early years, Tuen Mun was plagued by

teething problems brought about by unmatched timing in the

provision of services e.g. transport, schooling and job

placement etc. Moreover, the district is characterized by

a young population comprising mainly young working parents

with two teenage children moved from the urban area to live

in the new public housing estates.

generated

completed.

The high proportion of young children has

exceptionally high demand for nurseries,

kindergartens, schools and youth centre facilities in the

early years when many of these facilities have yet to be

The distance of Tuen Mun from the main urban

area, coupled with the initial inadequate public transport

links, had led to a perception among Tuen Mun residents

that they were

cut off from the rest of Hong Kong. These

young families had to adapt to a new environment; the

bread-winners had to settle in new jobs; and the housewives

had to shoulder the day-to-day family burden without the

previous community and kinship support. After twenty years

of development however Tuen Mun has now emerged from its

growing phase and become a thriving New Town.