ENG-1981 — Page 162

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HOUSING AND LAND

more than 105 000 people will be redeveloped over the next five years and, barring unforeseen problems, all remaining Mark I and II estates will be totally redeveloped within the next 15 years. Meanwhile, a substantial number of new flats are set aside each year to rehouse those living in overcrowded conditions in the remaining Mark I and II blocks, and, pending redevelopment, the vacated flats in these blocks are allocated to those eligible for temporary housing.

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One of the biggest projects under the programme - and at a cost of $267 million, the biggest single contract ever awarded by the Housing Authority is the building of a complex at Lok Fu which, in addition to producing 1 050 flats, will provide substantial commercial facilities to serve the central Kowloon area.

New Towns and Rural Townships

With suitable land virtually exhausted in the urban areas, housing needs for the 80s and beyond are being met by a huge development programme in the New Territories, where virgin land enables individual estates to be built as complete communities with a full range of social, educational and recreational facilities.

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In Tsuen Wan - soon to be linked to the urban areas by the Mass Transit Railway the final two phases of Shek Wai Kok Estate are under construction to provide system 3 340 flats, while neighbouring Tsing Yi Island will soon welcome a further 720 families at Cheung Hong Estate.

As part of the continuing programme to provide community facilities to serve this growing population, an urban clinic, a community centre and market were built. Other facilities under construction include four secondary schools and three primary schools, two community centres, two markets and a library, two multi-storey car parks and a transport interchange and government offices.

Some 170 hectares of land were formed during the year. Other major engineering works completed included the first stage of the Tsuen Wan bypass and grade-separated intersec- tions at Castle Peak Road and Texaco Road and at Tai Wo Tsuen. Work started on land formation and reclamation for various uses; on a new flyover over Castle Peak Road; bridge works for the second stage of Tsuen Wan bypass; a new ferry pier; and various other roads and services.

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Further to the west, at Tuen Mun, more than 5 000 flats were completed at the sister estates of On Ting and Yau Oi, with work progressing on another 5 900 flats in Butterfly the remaining blocks. The biggest public housing project in the new town Estate has 9 800 flats under various stages of 'construction and work has also started on 2600 flats at Shan King Estate. A major Home Ownership project is also under construction.

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Tuen Mun's population is about 130 000, or about 24 per cent of the projected population of 547 000. New factories have been built for light industry to provide employment opportunities for this growing population and appropriate community facilities have been or are being built. These include primary and secondary schools, a polytechnic, a divisional police station, community halls, a sports ground and other open space, markets and water supply service reservoirs. At the end of the year the government was negotiating with a private developer to operate a light rail public transport system within the town and its links with Yuen Long. Work continued on the construction of a major new power station and a cement factory to the west of the town.

However, the most dramatic new town development now taking place is at Sha Tin, where contracts have been let to produce 28 000 flats. They will be located in seven estates –