ENG-2002 — Page 268

LAND, PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES

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The construction of the Sha Tin section of Route 9, linking Sha Tin and Cheung Sha Wan, commenced in November 2002 for completion in 2007. In addition, the construction of Road T3, which will connect with Route 9, is planned to start in 2003 and will also be completed in 2007.

Development works for Sha Tin new town have been extended to Ma On Shan. Two public housing estates/Home Ownership Scheme projects are under construction. The construction of Trunk Road T7, which will bypass the Ma On Shan Town Centre, started in January 2001 and is targeted for completion in 2004.

An afforestation programme to restore the eroded areas in the hills behind the new town will be completed in 2003.

Tuen Mun

Tuen Mun new town, in the western New Territories, 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 1920 hectares.

The new town is home to 506 000 people and more than 310 000 of them live in public housing developments, which include public rental estates, home ownership and private sector participation schemes. A review of the planning and development programme for schools and more housing developments in north Tuen Mun near the Castle Peak Hospital is under way. The new town's population is forecast to rise to about 542 000 in 2011.

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.

In south-west Tuen Mun, the River Trade Terminal operates as a consolidation point for containers and bulk cargoes shipped between Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta ports. The second phase of reclamation for special industrial use is under way for completion in 2004. At the reclaimed area, a temporary construction and demolition material recycling facility began operation in July. To cater for the increasing traffic demand in association with these developments, construction of the Lung Fu Road (Foothills Bypass) was completed early in the year.

Tai Po

Tai Po has grown from a small market town of 25 000 people in 1974 into a new town with a population of about 282 000 on about 1 270 hectares of land. The new town is well developed with the major infrastructure in place.

The Pak Shek Kok Development includes the development of a Science Park and residential and recreation uses. The advance engineering infrastructure works for the development have been substantially completed to facilitate the inauguration of the initial phase of the Science Park. The Stage 1 parts of the remaining infrastructure works commenced in August for completion in end-2004 whereas the Stage 2 works are programmed to commence in late 2003 for completion in early 2007 to cope with the development programme of the Science Park as well as the residential development.