ENG-1988 — Page 242

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LAND, PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES

Yuen Long, Tin Shui Wai and the North-western New Territories A considerable amount of development has taken place in Yuen Long since the early 1970s. The town is still growing and more facilities will be provided in the coming years.

Emphasis during the year was placed on improving traffic circulation within the town in anticipation of the introduction of the Light Rail Transit System from Tuen Mun to a transport terminus in Yuen Long. A flyover at the northern bypass eastern junction and two bridges across the western nullah were completed and traffic management measures at several junctions were implemented.

Work began on construction of the Yuen Long town park, with extensive areas of woodland, an ornamental lake, a viewing tower, football pitches and other features.

The scheme to reduce the smell and visual impact of the Yuen Long nullahs has advanced to the detailed design stage and an improvement to the environment is expected by 1991.

The latest new town at Tin Shui Wai will be built on the 488-hectare government landholding. Initial development will be confined to the southern half of the landholding and preliminary works such as the construction of an access road from Castle Peak Road and the diversion of River Tai were completed.

A major site formation contract is underway for the new town. The material for filling is obtained from the seabed in Deep Bay by dredging and then pumping through pipelines to the site. To prevent flooding in the surrounding low-lying areas, flood protection works are being implemented in a number of villages. Design and construction of the infrastructure of the new town will be carried out in phases with a view to occupation of the Tin Yiu Estate, the first public housing estate in Tin Shui Wai, by 1992.

The north-western New Territories in general and the Tuen Mun-Yuen Long Corridor in particular will grow in prominence and considerable developments will take place in the future. The design of a major sewerage and sewage disposal project in the northwestern New Territories has started. This scheme to cost about $700 million, will cater for develop- ments in the Yuen Long peripheral areas, Tuen Mun-Yuen Long corridor, Tin Shui Wai New Town and Au Tau, for a population of about 600 000.

In the Tuen Mun-Yuen Long corridor, construction work commenced on the first stage of a commercial/residential development at Hung Shui Kiu.

Junk Bay and Sai Kung

A feasibility study was commissioned at the end of the year to examine the implications of additional development of the Junk Bay New Town. The Outline Development Plan of the new town was revised to increase the population capacity of the new town from 325 000 to 440 000 and to incorporate the development of the proposed third Industrial Estate.

Population intake to the new town began in March 1988. The Po Lam and Tsui Lam public housing estates were the first two to be occupied. Three Home Ownership estates, a temporary housing area and four schools were also completed. Extensive land formation works continued during the year and about seven hectares of land were formed up to final level. Roadworks, including the approaches to the Junk Bay Tunnel and the internal road network of the new town, are under construction. Internal works of the Junk Bay Tunnel, such as construction of linings and road pavements and the installation of electrical and mechanical services are also well underway. Discussions are being held with the Mass Transit Railway Corporation to develop a programme for extension of the MTR to Junk Bay.

Plans were prepared for the Sai Kung hinterland, giving priority to recreational develop- ment and to concentrate urban type development within selected development areas.