ENG-1996 — Page 273

LAND, PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES

On the western side, the Belcher Bay Reclamation will provide about 10 hectares of land, mainly for the construction of Belcher Bay Link, a dual carriageway connecting the existing upgraded Connaught Road West with Smithfield in Kennedy Town. Both the reclamation and the construction of the road link began in May 1993 and are targeted for completion in March 1997, to tie in with the opening of the Western Harbour Crossing.

On the eastern side, the Aldrich Bay development would produce about 30 hectares of land for private and public housing, open space and other uses. The new typhoon shelter was put into use in early 1991, while reclamation of the old typhoon shelter started in August 1992.

The Siu Sai Wan development included site formation to prepare about 56 hectares of land for residential, government, institutional, community and other uses. Two secondary schools and

schools and two Private Sector Participation

Private Sector Participation Scheme housing developments were completed. Another Private Sector Participation Scheme housing development and an Urban Council sports ground are under construction.

Site formation and road works for public housing development at Woodside, Quarry Bay, will commence in August 1997 for the building works to start in May 1999 and be completed in May 2002.

Kowloon

Reclamation work at West Kowloon was substantially completed. Some 328 hectares of land have been formed, including reclamation at Stonecutters Island. The broad objectives of the project are to provide land for major transport links to the new airport at Chek Lap Kok, including Western Harbour Crossing, West Kowloon Expressway, a section of Route 3 and the Airport Railway. It also provides space to ease pressure on adjacent congested residential and industrial areas. The area will house about 91 000 persons. A large open space fronting the residential estate at Mei Foo Sun Chuen was formed, acting as a buffer zone between the residential area and the future West Kowloon Expressway. A similar open space fronting Nam Cheong Estate is being constructed and is scheduled for completion in mid-1997.

Reclamation at Hung Hom Bay was completed, providing 36 hectares of land for private and public housing, commercial development, extension of the existing Kowloon-Canton Railway freight yard, government facilities, institutional and community facilities, schools, open space and road works. The area will house about 11 500 people. Engineering infrastructure, including two trunk roads (the Hung Hom Bypass and Princess Margaret Road Link) is being constructed and will be completed in mid-1999 to tie in with future development.

The government is conducting a feasibility study on developing the existing Kai Tak Airport site area after Hong Kong International Airport is relocated to Chek Lap Kok. The preliminary concept is that about 270 hectares could be obtained from the existing airport site, some 300 hectares could be formed by reclamation in the longer term, and about 100 hectares will be reserved for the proposed typhoon shelter and cargo-working area at Cha Kwo Ling. The adjoining 270 hectares of existing urban areas at Hung Hom, To Kwa Wan, Ma Tau Kok and Kowloon City will offer opportunities for restructuring. A wide range of engineering works will be involved including the reprovisioning of marine and land-based facilities, reclamation, highway construction and the provision of drainage, sewerage, sewage treatment and

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