New Towns and Rural Townships
The development of new towns in Hong Kong continued in
1997. At the end of 1997, about 2.7 million people were
housed in the new towns in which a wide range of facilities
like parks and open spaces, community and recreational
facilities, schools, markets and shopping centres and
convenient transport links were provided.
Engineering design and construction works on land formation
and infrastructure of the development areas in new towns are
overseen and co-ordinated by the TDD. Extensive landscaping
and greening works are also carried out in conjunction with
the development works. Under the afforestation programme
associated with the new town and urban development, more
than one million trees were planted in and around the new
towns and Metroplan development areas over the year. About
100 hectares of land were afforested to reduce water runoff
from hillsides.
With a view to meeting the flat production targets set by the
administration, the TDD has already put in extra resources to
expedite the delivery of housing sites and the provision of
essential infrastructure within New Towns, Strategic Growth
Areas and Major Development Areas. For long-term planning,
studies are also being conducted to identify potential
development areas and to consider the expansion of existing
new towns.
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