ENG-1978 — Page 31

10

NEW TOWNS

a trip from Tsuen Wan to Central District on Hong Kong Island will take a mere 28 minutes compared with an hour or more by road at present.

Within the new towns, careful consideration has been given to pathways, cycle routes and district roads as the means of access to planned areas, peripheral zones and to the main highways. Town planners have sought to avoid congestion and limit pollution while providing safe ways for residents to commute to work, home and recreational areas. At Tuen Mun a special public transport system, more than 11 kilometres long, has been incorporated in the town's development plan and it will give pedestrians and cyclists direct access to the countryside without crossing busy main highways. In Sha Tin, there will also be a system of walk-ways and cycle routes mostly kept apart from main roads. The smaller centres, in particular, are making provision for the cyclist and the pedestrian. A cycle route will link Tai Po with Fanling, and Yuen Long is to have a number of pedestrian precincts. All the towns are to have many bus stations, for buses will remain the main means of regional transport.

Looking to the 1980s

The policy for Hong Kong in the 1980s is to meet the housing and work needs of an energetic and ambitious people, while providing a pleasant environment for com- munal and family life, and recreation when work is done. The creation and growth of the new towns are bringing many changes to the lives of more than two million people. Their development is also affecting the location and expansion of Hong Kong's industry.

While the process of urbanisation is going ahead, much care is being exercised to ensure that large areas of the New Territories are retaining their rural charm. The market gardens are continuing to supply fresh vegetables, fruit and flowers and large areas of countryside, gazetted as country parks, are being preserved for relaxation.

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It is 30 years ago since Hong Kong was visited by Sir Patrick Abercrombie, who had drawn up plans for the rebuilding of London after World War II. Sir Patrick noted: 'In comparing Hong Kong with many other places, two special characteristics of its problems at once emerge first the shortage of land for any sort of urban expansion; secondly an unlimited reservoir of possible immigration.' He recom- mended the building of new towns' on the outskirts of Kowloon and in the New Territories; the zoning of Hong Kong into industrial and residential areas; the removal of military bases from urban centres; and the construction of a cross- harbour tunnel. In 1948 these were drastic and very expensive measures which might have been feasible in a time of quiet and prosperity, but not when Hong Kong's planners were grappling with the problems of immigrants, trade embargoes and outside political pressures.

Today the story is different; for Hong Kong it is a time of tremendous progress and accomplishment.