ENG-1973 — Page 152

LAND AND HOUSING

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people. While land formation and the provision of roads, water and drainage has been a government responsibility, building development has been shared with private enterprise. Government and aided housing accommodates about 379,000 people and private enterprise contributing housing for about 150,000. Local industry in Kwun Tong employs about 95,000 workers.

The other three large New Towns are in the New Territories at Tsuen Wan, Shatin and Tuen Mun (previously known as Castle Peak). In order to meet the government's 10-year public housing target the development of these new towns is being accelerated and considerable reorganisation has been necessary within certain government departments. This will ensure balanced development of public and private housing, employment and community facilities to provide compact self-contained towns with the need for city and intercity commuter traffic kept to the minimum.

At Tsuen Wan New Town, northwest of Kowloon, further residential and in- dustrial development is taking place on land already formed and two more major areas of development are now being planned. The town already has a population of more than 400,000. One area to the north of the existing development will provide housing for 114,000, together with 47 acres of land for industrial development and the land required for a town centre incorporating administrative, commercial and cultural facilities. The second area to be developed is Tsing Yi Island which will be connected to the mainland by a bridge due to be completed early in 1974. Tsing Yi is being planned for a population of 158,000 and although an integral part of Tsuen Wan New Town it will have all the facilities required to make it a self-contained community while also providing a number of sites suitable for heavy industry that needs sea access.

The New Town of Tuen Mun at the western part of the New Territories already has a population of 34,000. Two hundred acres have already been formed and are being developed for industrial and residential use. In the next 10 years it is planned to expand the new town to an area of about 2,070 acres with a target population of 464,000 persons.

The initial stage of development of Shatin New Town is now well in hand and includes residential development for 56,000, together with an industrial area of 13.5 acres. The next stage is now being planned to provide a balanced township of 236,000 by 1979. A further stage of development is also being planned which will increase population to 461,000 by 1983 and provide for an ultimate population of 475,000. Concurrently with the development of the new town the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club is building a new racecourse which also incorporates other sports facilities and is due for completion in 1978.

Concurrently with the development of the three major new towns, plans for the towns of Tai Po, Fanling-Sheung Shui, and Yuen Long are being formulated for their development with an ultimate target population of 124,000, 98,000 and 85,000 respectively. Concurrently with this, development of smaller communities related to public housing estates are planned for the islands of Cheung Chau and Peng Chau, at Tai O and Mui Wo on Lantau Island and at Lau Fau Shan, Tan Kwai Tsuen and Sai Kung in the New Territories.