ENG-1989 — Page 249

LAND, PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES

committed $452 million to subvented projects. These figures do not include private donations or funding. Advice is also given on the provision of government accommodation in private developments. Examples include joint-venture housing, office accommodation and transport interchanges. During the year, some 164 projects were handled with a combined value of over $4,000 million.

The number of projects carried out for the Urban Council continued to increase, with the completion of sports grounds at Hammer Hill and Kowloon Tsai. Both provide covered spectator stands, grass football pitches and all-weather running tracks. Multi- functional complexes, providing cooked food facilities, markets and indoor games halls, were completed at Chun Sing, Kwun Chung and Java Road. Air-conditioning was pro- vided at the Kwun Chung games hall as an improvement to the standard provision. A major event for the Urban Council was the completion of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre at Tsim Sha Tsui. The complex was handed over in the middle of the year for a series of commissioning concerts, and was officially opened on November 8. The new centre provides concert and theatre facilities of international standards.

Construction of the new Regional Council Chamber and Regional Services Department headquarters superstructure in Sha Tin commenced in April. The project is due to be completed in early 1991.

Medical facilities continued to be expanded with the completion of the 1 650-bed Tuen Mun Hospital, serving Tuen Mun and the western region of the New Territories. Work on the Pamela Youde Hospital in Chai Wan continued during the year and work on the associated Nurses' Training School and staff quarters is due to start in early 1990, with the entire complex scheduled for completion in 1992. The improvement work at Queen Mary Hospital continued, with the main phase of Stage II being completed during the second half of the year. Work progressed on the 700-bed Sha Tin Convalescent and Infirmary Hospital, due to be completed by the end of 1990. Convalescent hospitals in Tai Po and Tsuen Wan are at design stage. The Pamela Youde Child Assessment Centre and School Dental Clinic was brought into operation at the end of the year and public clinics are under construction in Yuen Long, Tseung Kwan O and Ap Lei Chau.

The government continues to construct office buildings for its own use. The first phase of Wan Chai Tower II, comprising the lower 27 floors, was completed for occupation near the end of the year, with the remainder of the 49-storey building due to be finished in mid-1990. Work also commenced on the identical Tower III on an adjacent site which will be completed in 1992. Work commenced on the Tsuen Wan Central Library and government office complex, while work continued on the Eastern Magistracy and offices and the 11-storey government office on the podium of Mong Kok Station, due for completion in 1990 and 1991 respectively.

Several projects were completed for the disciplined services including the New Territories Regional Police Headquarters, the Kowloon Regional Command and Control Centre and the new border crossing point at Lok Ma Chau. Five sub-divisional fire stations and two ambulance depots were commissioned at various locations in the territory. Works are still in progress on Phase 1 of the new depot for the Police Tactical Unit in Fanling and Phase 1 of the redevelopment of Police Headquarters, both due for completion in 1990. In addition, three district police headquarters, three divisional police stations, two marine police bases and 844 departmental quarters for disciplined services personnel are under construction for completion in 1990 and beyond.

During the year, the last phase of the provision of air-conditioning to multi-purpose halls in existing community centres was completed. A total of 44 existing centres are now

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