ENG-1995 — Page 249

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LAND, PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES

opportunities for urban restructuring. The development and restructuring of South- East Kowloon will require a wide range of engineering works, including the reprovisioning of marine and land-based facilities; reclamation; highway construction and the provision of drainage, sewerage, sewage treatment and other public utilities. The development will be implemented in phases, into the next century. Upon com- pletion, it will accommodate about 285 000 people and provide about 110 000 jobs. A detailed development feasibility study was commenced in late 1995 and will take about 20 months to complete.

Also in line with the Metroplan is the proposed Kowloon Point Development which covers an area of about 60 hectares at the southern end of the West Kowloon Reclamation. A feasibility study started in August 1995 and will take 16 months to complete. The study will investigate the essential aspects of planning, urban design, landscaping, traffic and transport, engineering, environmental impact assessment, port and marine works, programming and costing in developing Kowloon Point. It will formulate practical and optimum solutions for the phased and integrated development of the study area within the framework of the latest strategic planning, traffic and transport proposals.

Urban Renewal

In preparing the Metroplan and development statements, urban renewal frameworks are prepared for various districts in the urban area. The older urban districts were seen as offering redevelopment opportunities for comprehensive renewal to create a better urban environment.

The Land Development Corporation (LDC) was established in 1988 to undertake, encourage, promote and facilitate urban renewal. Since its inception, seven urban renewal projects have been completed and 21 projects are under way in the old urban districts.

Scheme plans for comprehensive redevelopment in the older parts of Yau Ma Tei, Tsim Sha Tsui and Wan Chai were drawn up and published under the Town Planning Ordinance in 1995. Comprehensive redevelopment scheme plans for some dilapidated areas in Central, Sheung Wan and Mong Kok are being implemented by the LDC. They will all provide office buildings, community facilities and much-needed open space. The LDC has also undertaken some smaller commercial and residential redevelopment projects aimed at environmental improvement. The Hong Kong Housing Society has contributed to the urban renewal process by undertaking several urban improvement schemes in the older areas.

In recognition of the need for review of policies, programmes and institutional arrangements to facilitate urban renewal, the government published a document entitled "Urban Renewal" for public consultation in July. Its suggestions include a review on the terms of acquisition and compensation, and having the LDC act as a facilitator to ease the private redevelopment process.

New Towns and Rural Townships

The development of new towns in Hong Kong continued steadily in 1995, with the formation of additional land, the construction of new and improved infrastructure and the addition of further community facilities.