ENG-2000 — Page 268

LAND, PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES

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hectares) is to be developed into a world-class integrated arts, cultural and entertainment district. An open competition on the planning for the land use of this area is being organised.

On the Hung Hom Bay Reclamation (36 hectares), 16 000 people will be housed. Land will be used for the expansion of railway freight-yard development, private and public housing development, government, institutional and community facilities, schools as well as open space. Infrastructure works are complete. On the site of a Comprehensive Development Area, construction of residential/service apartments with social welfare facilities and public open space is in progress.

The Comprehensive Feasibility Study for the Revised Scheme of South-East Kowloon Development commenced in November 1999. A draft preliminary layout plan was prepared under Stage I of the study. It proposed a total development area of 403 hectares including 280 hectares of the old Kai Tak airport site and 123 hectares of reclaimed land to house about 246 000 people and create some 55 000 jobs. A full range of community facilities and open space will be provided. The development will be served by state-of-the-art, energy-efficient facilities. Above-ground roads will be reduced to a minimum and heritage items will be maintained. A new tourism node will be created at Kai Tak Point, maintaining the tip of the former runway as a feature. The node will be complemented by a Metropolitan Park covering an area of 24 hectares, a waterfront promenade and a stadium of international standard. The waterfront promenade, about 5.4 kilometres long, will become an attraction for tourists and residents. A series of public consultations on the draft preliminary layout plan started in May and favourable responses have been received. Stage II of the study followed in July and the whole study is expected to be completed in early 2001. New Towns and Rural Townships

The development of new towns in the New Territories continued in 2000. At the end of the year, about 3.1 million people were housed in the new towns and the nearby rural townships, enjoying a wide range of community and recreational facilities, including schools, markets, shopping centres, parks and open spaces and convenient transport links.

Engineering design and construction works on land formation and infrastructure of the development are overseen and co-ordinated by the Territory Development Department (TDD).

Landscape Design and the Natural Environment

Extensive landscape works continued to be implemented in conjunction with the developments, providing a green framework to the new neighbourhoods. Trees are planted along roadsides to provide shade and colour and attention is given to the provision and design of sitting areas and walkways for the enjoyment of the public. Ecological restoration works have also been undertaken in accordance with Environmental Impact Assessment Studies to mitigate the impact of engineering works. Recent works of this type include the creation of wetland wildlife habitats associated with river training works in the north-western New Territories and the ongoing construction of a major wetland area near Tin Shui Wai.

The large-scale afforestation programme continued in the hinterland of the new towns and urban development areas, reducing water run-off from hillsides,