ENG-2005 — Page 277

Land, Public Works and Utilities | 231

Drainage Channel and the Yuen Long Bypass Floodway is in progress and is expected to be completed in 2006.

Tseung Kwan O

Tseung Kwan O new town has a planned population of around 470 000. It covers an area of about 1 738 hectares.

The new town has a well-established external road network comprising the Tsueng Kwan O Tunnel, Po Lam Road and Clear Water Bay Road. The Tseung Kwan O Lam Tin Tunnel is in the planning stage. The new town is also served by the MTR Tseung Kwan O extension.

The Tseung Kwan O Industrial Estate is in the southeast part of the new town. About 95 hectares of land has been prepared for the development of high- technology industries or industries requiring a large area. A further 104 hectares is reserved for further industrial developments and possible potentially hazardous installations.

Future development in the Town Centre South will feature extensive park and recreational facilities by the waterfront. Implementation of the supporting infrastructure is in hand.

Tin Shui Wai

Tin Shui Wai was built on 430 hectares of land reclaimed from low lying areas off Deep Bay. The new town's planned population is around 306 400. An International Wetland Park has been built close to the new town and will be opened in 2006.

West Rail, Light Rail and the trunk road network of Castle Peak Road and Yuen Long Highway provide good connections to Yuen Long and Tuen Mun and to the urban areas beyond.

Tung Chung

Construction works for Phase 1 of Tung Chung new town were completed in 1997, providing facilities for an initial community of around 18 000. Engineering works for the Phase 2 development were completed in 2001 to serve an intended population of about 69 000. Reclamation for Phase 3A, which can accommodate a population of 21 000, was completed in early 2004. In 2005, the population rose to more than 60 000. Further studies will be conducted to review and establish the feasibility of the further development in Tung Chung to accommodate an overall target population of about 220 000. The study will start in 2006 for completion in 2008.

The new town is linked to the rest of Hong Kong by the North Lantau Highway and the high-speed Airport/Tung Chung Railway.

In December 2003, the Government granted a franchise to the MTR Corporation Limited for the finance, design, construction, operation and maintenance of a cable- car system linking Tung Chung and Ngong Ping. When it is completed in mid-2006, it is expected to become an important tourism facility.