ENG-2006 — Page 270

222 | Land, Public Works and Utilities

A Preliminary Outline Development Plan for Kai Tak was prepared, based on which a new draft Kai Tak Outline Zoning Plan was formulated and exhibited in November 2006 under section 5 of the Town Planning Ordinance for public inspection for two months. Subject to completion of the statutory planning procedure, the Outline Zoning Plan will provide the statutory planning framework to proceed with the Kai Tak Development. The Kai Tak Engineering Review, covering detailed engineering and environmental studies, is scheduled to start in early 2007.

Another Kowloon scheme, the Choi Wan Road and Jordan Valley development project, will provide a 20-hectare site in Kwun Tong for public rental housing for 35 500 people, seven schools and open space. The project will be completed in stages from 2008 to 2010 to dovetail with a housing and school development programme.

New Towns

The development of new towns in the New Territories continued in 2006. The completion of some railway lines had provided convenient mass-transit connections between the new towns and the urban areas. Extensive landscape works continued during the year in conjunction with new developments, providing green surroundings for new neighbourhoods. About 2.26 million trees and shrubs were planted in 2006.

Tsuen Wan

Tsuen Wan new town comprises Tsuen Wan, Kwai Chung and Tsing Yi Island and occupies a total development area of 3 285 hectares for a projected population of 857 400.

Tsuen Wan used to be an industrial area. Although most of the factories there have moved to the Mainland, parts of the district have retained their looks as industrial centres. The new town accommodates nine container terminals at Kwai Tsing, the latest of which was completed in 2005.

Major highway projects are being constructed to further extend and reinforce the main road network to cater for the increased traffic in the area. Construction of part of Route 8 between Tsing Yi and Cheung Sha Wan, and the remaining section of Route 9 between Shek Wai Kok and Chai Wan Kok is going on and is expected to be completed in 2009 and early 2007 respectively.

Sha Tin

Sha Tin new town contains Sha Tin and Ma On Shan and covers a total development area of 3 591 hectares for a projected population of 735 000.

The new town has a well-established external transport system and network of roads and tunnels comprising the Kowloon-Canton Railway, Ma On Shan Rail, Lion Rock Tunnel, Tai Po Road, Tolo Highway, Sai Sha Road, Shing Mun Tunnel and Tate's Cairn Tunnel.

The road links to and from Sha Tin are being expanded. Route 8, which includes Sha Tin Heights Tunnel and Eagle Nest Tunnel, will link Sha Tin with Cheung Sha Wan

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