ENG-1984 — Page 231

180

Tsuen Wan

LAND, PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES

The thrust of initial post-war development in Tsuen Wan was private industry. As a result, there is today a strong manufacturing base in the new town. In 1963, a plan for the development of Tsuen Wan as a self-sufficient new town was approved by the Governor in Council. To achieve this, the plan allowed for extensive residential development, both public and private, with the appropriate infrastructure of community facilities, open space and cultural and recreational opportunities. This remains the philosophy behind present planning in Tsuen Wan.

The new town development plan covers an area of 2 670 hectares and the present population is 700 000. When all major development is completed in 1993, the new town will be home to about 890 000 people and offer job opportunities to 450 000 workers.

The major development in the initial plan involved large reclamation schemes in Tsuen Wan Bay and the estuary of Kwai Chung Creek. These have been completed and with the exception of a few sites, notably the Kwai Chung South town centre site at Kwai Fong, all have been fully developed. A second stage of reclamation in both these areas is now in progress; in Kwai Chung to provide for extensions to the container port, now with the third largest throughput in the world, plus land for container related activities, and in Tsuen Wan Bay to provide land for open space and recreational facilities and government, residential and industrial uses. On this reclamation, adjacent to the Tsuen Wan Town Hall, a new ferry pier has been opened and behind this the territory's largest transport complex is nearing completion.

The completion of the Tsing Yi Bridge in 1974 marked the beginning of major development of Tsing Yi Island and its potential was further increased when a number of large platforms were formed during the process of providing fill for the container port. Tsing Yi town centre will eventually form the focal point for the island's proposed population of 200 000. Cheung Ching, the first of six large public housing estates, has been completed. In the southern half of the island, large areas of land have been produced by earthworks and reclamation which are intended for specialist and land intensive industries. A contract has been awarded for the construction of the Tsing Yi North Bridge which is expected to be completed by mid-1987. This will greatly improve access to and from the island and will promote rapid development in the north and in the

town centre.

The platforms created by extracting fill material for the initial Tsuen Wan Bay and Kwai Chung reclamations have now been developed as public housing estates. The greatest proportion of the new town's population currently live in public housing. There is also considerable private sector activity. For example, by 1986 some 20 000 people will be housed above the Tsuen Wan and Kwai Fong Mass Transit Railway stations, and at both ends of the Tsuen Wan Bay reclamation substantial industrial areas have been re-zoned for comprehensive residential development.

The Mass Transit Railway's Tsuen Wan Extension, completed in 1982, provided a much needed passenger transport link with Kowloon and Hong Kong Island. The impact of the railway on the new town has been particularly noticeable at Tsuen Wan station where extensive commercial activity has developed quickly. Similar developments are planned adjacent to the Kwai Fong and Lai King stations. Transport continues to be a matter of prime interest in the new town. The Tsuen Wan Bypass, across the Tsuen Wan Bay reclamation, is due to be opened in April 1985. Projects in the design stage include the Tsuen Wan to Sha Tin Route 5 Highway and the Texaco Road improvement and connection to the Tsing Yi North Bridge.