ENG-1999 — Page 275

LAND, PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES

primary road link to Ma On Shan town centre is scheduled for completion in 2002. Three public housing estates/Home Ownership Scheme projects are under construction. The construction of Trunk Road T7, which will bypass the Town Centre, is planned to start in late 2000 for completion in early 2004. Upon full development, Ma On Shan will house more than 200 000 people.

The programme to improve conditions in the old villages in and around Sha Tin continues. Servicing and minor formation works for villages at Ngau Pei Sha, Chap Wai Kon and To Shek were completed in 1999. An afforestation programme to restore the eroded areas in the hills behind the new town was completed in 1999. About three million trees have been planted in these areas in recent years.

Tuen Mun

Tuen Mun is developed mainly on land reclaimed from Castle Peak Bay and on platforms formed in the valley between Castle Peak and the Tai Lam Hills. It covers a total development area of about 1 920 hectares.

About 70 per cent of the town's 502 000 people live in public housing developments, which comprise 11 public rental estates, 18 home ownership and private sector participation scheme developments. Within the next five years, three more home ownership and private sector participation scheme projects, one public rental estate and one Vertical Interim Housing project will be developed to provide new accommodation for 73 000 people.

The KCRC West Rail will have two stations in Tuen Mun New Town, each with its own public transport interchange facilities. Residential and commercial components are also proposed above the future Tuen Mun Centre Station. The West Rail will provide a convenient mass transport facility to connect this new town with the

metro area.

In western Tuen Mun, a 120-hectare site has been earmarked for a river trade terminal and special industries. The first phase of the River Trade Terminal commenced operation in October 1998. The second phase is under construction for completion in mid-2000. Reclamation works for the special industries began in 1995. To cater for the increasing traffic demand in association with these developments, construction of a major road, the Foothills Bypass, commenced in September 1998 for completion in mid-2001.

Tai Po

Tai Po has grown from a small market town of 25 000 in 1974 into a new town with a population of 300 000 on about 1 270 hectares of land. The anticipated population on full development is 332 000. The new town is well developed with the major infrastructure in place.

The feasibility study for the Pak Shek Kok development completed in August 1998 identified the development of a Science Park, residential and recreation uses. The detailed design of the advance infrastructure has been completed and advance infrastructural work commenced in October for completion in mid-2001 to tie in with the operation of the Science Park, Phase I.

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