ENG-1996 — Page 274

LAND, PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES

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other public utilities, continuing into the next century. If implemented, it would accommodate about 285 000 people and provide about 110 000 jobs. The detailed development feasibility study is scheduled to be completed by mid-1997.

Also in line with the Metroplan is the proposed Kowloon Point Development at the southern end of the West Kowloon Reclamation. A feasibility study started in August 1995 investigates 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.

New Towns and Rural Townships

The development of new towns in Hong Kong continued in 1996, with the production of more land, new and improved infrastructure and community facilities. The provision of new roads, drains, sewers, etc., services the new land for building development. Concurrent with the engineering works was the landscaping and greening of the new towns.

At the end 1996, about 2.6 million people were housed in the new towns, provided with parks and open spaces, community and recreational facilities, schools, markets and shopping centres and 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.

Hong Kong's container terminals are mainly concentrated in the Kwai Chung area. The new Container Terminal 8 is now operational. Container Terminal 9 is planned for South-East Tsing Yi.

Major highway projects will further extend and reinforce the main road network. The duplicate Tsing Yi South Bridge is under construction. A flyover across Castle Peak Road connecting Tsuen King Circuit and Sha Tsui Road is planned for construction in early 1997.

Additional community facilities are under construction, including Kwai Tsing Civic Centre, which will provide a 900-seat auditorium and auxiliary facilities such as an exhibition hall, dance room and restaurant.

Sha Tin

Sha Tin new town is already home for over half a million people. Developed in the early 1970s, it is well known for its planning and integrated development. About 73 per cent of the town's 545 000 people live in public housing developments, which comprise 15 public rental estates and 21 home ownership and private sector participation schemes. Together with some low-density private developments, the new town will provide houses for about 586 600 people by 2001.

Since 1981, development works have extended to Ma On Shan where reclamation was completed in 1994, with a total development area of about 2 000 hectares. Work on the last section of the primary road link to Ma On Shan Town Centre is scheduled for completion in 1998. The construction of Trunk Road T7, which will bypass the Town Centre, is under planning. Three additional public housing estates/Home