ENG-1981 — Page 163

HOUSING AND LAND

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Sun Tin Wai, San Tin, Tin Sam, Mei Lam, Pok Hang, Sha Kok and Sha Tin Tau. Schools, clinics, community halls, district and local open space and commercial complexes are being built concurrently with public and private housing projects. Work has also started on a major sports training facility, which is being funded by the government and the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club.

The population of Sha Tin is now about 157 000 and the new town is being designed to accommodate some 756 000 people. Some 104 hectares of new land have been made available for this expansion programme of public and private housing, community facilities, industry and open space. Major engineering works completed include the formation and servicing of land in various planning areas, reclamation at the mouth of the Shing Mun River, fresh and salt water service reservoirs, a new railway station forming part of the modernisation of the Kowloon-Canton Railway with an associated podium for buses, and elevated roads and footbridges.

At Tai Po, where a new town for 236 000 is being built, the first public housing estate for 32 000 people was completed on 15 hectares of reclaimed land. Construction also started on a second estate for 40 000 people. Community facilities to serve the new population were built and the sewage treatment works is being extended in stages to handle effluent generated by population growth and industrial development.

Work is well under way for a new town at Fanling/Shek Wu Hui for about 180 000 people. Construction of the first public housing estate for 30 000 is in hand and work has started on a second estate for 22 000 people.

East of Kowloon and separated from it by a major ridgeline is Junk Bay where a new town is being planned for about 300 000 people. Planning, engineering and sector studies were-commissioned and site investigation and detailed design work started for initial development areas and the primary access road.

The population of Yuen Long is now about 50 000 of its projected population of 135 000 and the first stage of the first public housing estate was completed. Detailed planning was carried out on a 58-hectare site at the northern boundary of the town which will provide accommodation for 42 000 people.

In the rural townships, six hectares were formed at Sai Kung and construction started on further site formation, seawall, reclamation and a pier, fire station, market and bazaars.

In four smaller townships on outlying islands with a total projected population of 60 000 people - a public housing estate for 1 300 was completed at Tai O while land for other estates was being formed at Mui Wo and Cheung Chau to achieve a balance of development and improved environment.

Allocations

The Housing Authority possesses a stock of 440 900 domestic flats, of widely varying sizes, amenities and rent levels. During the year, 27 900 flats were allocated to 130 600 eligible people in the following categories: Waiting list applicants; development clearance cases; tenants of early housing estates under redevelopment; tenants of early housing estates under external transfer to create primary housing; victims of fire and natural disasters; compassionate cases recommended by the Social Welfare Department or the Medical and Health Department; occupants of huts and other structures in a dangerous location; former tenants of dangerous tenements; residents affected by the reuse of temporary housing areas; and junior civil servants and pensioners. Some 4 600 flats were allocated to families rendered homeless by development clearance, while 12 200 were allocated to waiting list applicants, of which 300 were allocated to the elderly.