ENG-1985 — Page 208

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LAND, PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES

Junk Bay and Sai Kung The first phase of Junk Bay New Town is being planned around two main districts, to accommodate about 175 000 people. The two districts will be served by a centrally located and easily accessible commercial complex which will include open space and community facilities and a transport interchange. Formation of land for the first public housing estates for 47 000 people has been completed and estate construction is underway. Initially, the town will be served by an improved Po Lam Road linking Junk Bay with East Kowloon. In future, the principal access will be via a new road tunnel, currently scheduled to open in 1990. If the territory's longer term housing needs require it, a second phase of the new town may be considered.

Outside the new town, plans for Sai Kung District have given priority to developing recreation potential and to discouraging new urban development beyond selected develop- ment areas. A planning study for the future development of Sai Kung Town and its immediate hinterland has been completed and an outline development plan for a design population of 40 000 people has been finalised.

Islands District

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In recent years,

the outlying islands have taken on an increasingly important role in the life of Hong Kong. As part of the Island Development Programme, projects continued during the year

both planned and underway to provide for existing and future growth in population, to upgrade living standards, and to improve general facilities for the increasing number of visitors to the islands. Although development remains generally low-rise and rural in character, the programme of works is large and diverse, concentrating mainly on the population centres of Mui Wo and Tai O on Lantau, and on Cheung Chau and Peng Chau. Work on the construction of a new rural public housing estate at Mui Wo for about 2 000 people will start in early 1986, to add to the existing rural public housing estates at Tai O and on Cheung Chau. More facilities will also become available throughout the district, including ferries, schools, market buildings, recreational facilities, sewage treatment plants and abattoirs.

Other New Development Areas

During the year, activity focused on reclamation works on the northeastern and south- western coasts of Hong Kong Island and the western part of the Kowloon peninsula.

On Hong Kong Island, five hectares were reclaimed at Chai Wan and 1.5 hectares at Ap Lei Chau for road construction, industrial development and government uses. Part of Telegraph Bay was under reclamation and the year saw the formation of two hectares of land. Reclamation at Aldrich Bay and Aberdeen also provided respectively one hectare and 0.3 hectare of much needed space for road improvements and other uses.

In Kowloon, reclamation at Cheung Sha Wan formed eight hectares for the construction of the West Kowloon Corridor, a wholesale food market and industrial facilities and amenity areas. To the north of Stonecutters Island, 2.8 hectares of land were reclaimed to accommodate the North West Kowloon Sewage Treatment Plant.

In the eastern part of the New Territories, the site of the Tai Po Industrial Estate was expanded by seven hectares as part of the third and final stage of development there.

Town Planning

The main aim of town planning in Hong Kong is to provide a good living and working en- vironment for its present and future population. This applies both to the new development