ENG-1994 — Page 272

LAND, PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES

About 190 hectares of new land were formed for new town development, the bulk of it at Tseung Kwan O and Tung Chung. Plans were being considered to accelerate either the provision of additional land or the construction of new infrastructure to activate the use of land reserves already formed. Concurrent with the rapid development was the landscaping and greening of the new towns.

At the end of the year, about 2.6 million people were housed in the new towns, close to parks and open spaces, community and recreational facilities, schools, markets and shopping centres, and with convenient transport links.

Tsuen Wan

Tsuen Wan new town embraces the areas of Tsuen Wan, Kwai Chung and Tsing Yi Island. Its population is expected to stabilise over the next 10 years at around 700 000. While new development and redevelopment continues, the gradual reduction in family sizes and increased provision of larger flats will result in a decrease in population in some areas, resulting in no overall increase.

In addition to the district's historic elements, the new town is characterised by the location of Hong Kong's container terminals in its midst in the Kwai Chung area. The new Container Terminal 8 development, with the exception of some outstanding back-up areas, was completed by October 1994.

Container Terminal 9 is planned for Southeast Tsing Yi. Detailed design for the duplicate Tsing Yi South Bridge has been finalised.

Major highway projects will further extend and reinforce the principal road network. In Tsuen Wan, the improvement works to Texaco Road Phase II are progressing satisfactorily. Upon their completion in early 1995, the existing traffic congestion at Tsuen Tsing Interchange will be alleviated. In Kwai Chung, upon the completion of improvement works to Hing Fong Road at the end of 1994, the capacity of the Tsuen Wan Road/Kwai Tsing Road junction was significantly improved, at the same time alleviating existing traffic congestion problems in the area.

Additional community facilities are under construction. These include Tsing Yi Town Park Phase II, Tak Wah Park Phase II, a swimming pool complex and sports ground on Tsing Yi, a swimming pool complex at Shing Mun Valley and Ha Kwai Chung Polyclinic. Construction of the Kwai Tsing Civic Centre, which will provide a 900-seat auditorium and auxiliary facilities such as an exhibition hall, dance room and restaurant, also commenced in late 1994.

Sha Tin

Sha Tin new town is, to a large extent, complete and already home to over half a million people. Sha Tin, well known for its planning and integrated development, is situated at the head of Tolo Harbour.

The final reclamation contract at Ma On Shan, completed in 1994, has boosted the total development area to about 1 900 hectares. Work on the last section of the primary road link to Ma On Shan Town Centre has started and is scheduled for completion in 1998.

The programme to improve conditions in the many old villages in and around Sha Tin continued during the year. The village improvement schemes for Hin Tin, Sheung Keng Hau and Ha Keng Hau were completed in 1994.

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