ENG-1986 — Page 207

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LAND, PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES

of this review, Ma On Shan will be developed to accommodate a population of about 200 000 and land production is being adjusted accordingly.

Development in Sha Tin was concentrated on a wide range of community facilities projects during the year. Major projects completed included the riverside promenades, a cultural complex, a hotel, and a magistracy. Adequate commercial facilities are provided in all housing estates together with a major commercial complex in the Sha Tin Town Centre.

Other important facilities in the new town include the Prince of Wales Hospital, providing over 1 400 beds and the Chinese University of Hong Kong. To complement these, a technical institute has been completed and other hospitals and a college of educa- tion are in an active stage of planning.

Tuen Mun

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The population in Tuen Mun has already risen to about 280 000 and the development of land which is in the pipeline will raise the population to over 500 000 by the mid-1990s.

High density development has been and will continue to be concentrated on land reclaimed from Castle Peak Bay and along the adjoining valley floor between the Castle Peak ridge and the Tai Lam hills. In this 'urban core', eight public housing estates have been completed and are occupied by some 176 000 people. A further 45 000 people live in Home Ownership and Private Sector Participation schemes.

The town centre has grown rapidly and when complete will provide a variety of commercial and recreational activities. The new government offices are occupied and the auditorium is substantially complete. The adjoining private sector commercial and resi- dential-development is also progressing quickly. The facilities of the town centre are complemented by the first phase of the town park. Elsewhere a swimming pool complex and two indoor recreation centres have been completed.

Due to polarised migration, there has been an abnormally high level of demand for school facilities. The school building programme has been advanced and 10 schools are under construction. In addition, a new technical institute has been opened.

Within the core of the new town, the existing industrial areas are largely developed, providing floorspace for around 1 700 companies and jobs for over 33 000 workers.

Work has started on the Tuen Mun-Yuen Long Light Rail Transit System which will provide rapid tram links within the town and to Yuen Long. At the southern end of the system, the transport interchange will also provide facilities for buses, taxis, and public light buses, and is linked to the new ferry pier which provides hoverferry services to Central.

In the low density residential areas along the coast to the southeast of town, work has also started on a marina which will provide berths for 300 craft as well as hotel and commercial facilities.

Tai Po

Tai Po New Town is located at the northwestern extremity of Tolo Harbour about 20 kilometres north of Kowloon. With the completion of the Tolo Highway and the electrified Kowloon-Canton Railway, travelling time from Tai Po to Kowloon is less than 30 minutes by either rail or road.

Historically Tai Po served as a market town for its rural hinterland, but a rapid build-up in population in recent years has overshadowed this traditional role. In 1986, Tai Po had a population of about 135 000 and under present plans this will grow to about 300 000 in the mid-1990s.