ENG-1994 — Page 274

LAND, PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES

Light manufacturing industries, including plastics, garments, metal, electronics and textiles, dominate in Tuen Mun. The existing industrial areas provide floor space for about 2 200 companies and jobs for about 40 000 people. Over 80 per cent of the workers employed in the factories live in the Tuen Mun and Yuen Long areas.

The backbone of the transport service serving the town, and linking it with Yuen Long, is the Light Rail Transit system. Provision has been made for its future extension within the Tuen Mun region.

A large-scale recreation project was completed at the year's end, providing a horse- riding school, a golf-driving range and other recreation facilities such as a children's play

area.

A 125-hectare site in western Tuen Mun has been earmarked for special industries and a terminal for river trade with China to be developed by the private sector. Reclamation work for the special industry area will commence in mid-1995. A planning and engineering feasibility study was completed for an even larger reclamation to the north of Tap Shek Kok in Tuen Mun West, for both deep waterfront industries and cargo-working terminal development.

Construction work on a new thermal power station, with a 5 000MW capacity, at Black Point is in progress.

Yuen Long, Tin Shui Wai and the Northwestern New Territories Yuen Long town was first developed in the early 1970s. Its population, which stood at 120 000 at the end of the year, is expected to grow to 140 000 early in the next decade.

Development is spreading to the Tuen Mun-Yuen Long Corridor. The rural area is being rejuvenated, with new infrastructure providing for improved rural development.

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The final major infrastructure contract in Tin Shui Wai was completed, ensuring the whole development will be adequately serviced with the rapid completion of private and public housing developments.

Land formation for the first stage of the Light Rail Transit link to Tin Shui Wai was completed in late 1992 and train services commenced in early 1993. Both the Tin Shui Wai light rail routes to Yuen Long and Tuen Mun and the new town itself were commissioned in 1993.

The two public housing estates, Tin Yiu Estate and Tin Shui Estate, were completed. The first residents began to move into their new flats less than five years after major engineering works started in late 1987. They were followed shortly afterwards by the residents of the private development, Kingswood Villa. A third public housing development commenced in early 1994. Upon its completion in 1997, the new town population is expected to reach 140 000.

Long Tin Road and Long Ping Road, which connect the southeast of Tin Shui Wai to Yuen Long, were completed in early 1992. The Tuen Mun-Yuen Long Eastern Corridor was opened to traffic in July 1993. The Yuen Long Southern Bypass was opened to traffic in November 1994, while construction of the Tin Shui Wai West Access was continuing. As these major roads move to completion, the traffic around this area will improve progressively.

For the disposal of sewage from existing and future developments, the Northwest New Territories Sewerage Scheme, which provides for a sewage treatment plant, pumping

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