The development of new towns in the New Territories continued in 2002. At year-end, about 3.28 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 developments are overseen and coordinated by the 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-out areas and walkways for the public's enjoyment.

    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 to reduce soil erosion by water run-off from hillsides, thereby preventing siltation of drainage systems and enhancing the countryside. Over 10 million trees have been planted in the last five years.

Tsuen Wan

Tsuen Wan new town embraces the areas of Tsuen Wan, Kwai Chung and Tsing Yi Island. It covers a total development area of about 2 450 hectares and has a current population of about 757 000. The population is expected to rise to about 829 000 by 2011. The new town has Hong Kong's container terminals in its midst in the Kwai Chung area. The Container Terminal 9 is under construction in south-east Tsing Yi and expected to be completed by 2005.

    Major highway projects are being implemented or planned to further extend and reinforce the main road network. The Tsing Yi North Coastal Road was completed in early 2002. The Castle Peak Road improvement between Belvedere Garden in Tsuen Wan and Sham Tseng, and from Sham Tseng to Ka Loon Tsuen near Tsing Lung Tau is being implemented. Construction of Route 9 between Tsing Yi and Cheung Sha Wan, and the section of Route 5 between Shek Wai Kok and Chai Wan Kok are in progress. The KCRC West Rail is under construction and will have one station in Tsuen Wan West.

Sha Tin

Sha Tin new town embraces the areas of Sha Tin and Ma On Shan. It covers a total development area of about 2 000 hectares. It is already home to about 635 000 people, approximately 62 per cent of whom live in public permanent housing developments. At present, there are 16 public rental estates and 25 home ownership and private sector participation scheme developments. The population of the new town is expected to increase to about 699 000 by 2011.

    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 1 920 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.

Fanling and Sheung Shui

Fanling and Sheung Shui are former traditional market towns which now have a population of about 247 000. The total development area is about 780 hectares. The new town's population is expected to reach nearly 264 000 in 2011.

    The river training works at the River Indus Basin to relieve the risk of flooding in the Fanling and Sheung Shui area continue. These works are scheduled for completion in 2003.

Yuen Long

Yuen Long new town has a current population of about 165 000 and this is expected to grow to around 200 000 by 2011. It covers a development area of about 1 170 hectares. Development has spread to the Tuen Mun-Yuen Long Corridor.

    Development in Yuen Long new town is being extended southward. Infrastructure works for the southern extension area commenced at end-2002 for completion by 2005.

Tseung Kwan O

The development of Tseung Kwan O began in 1982. The total development area is about 1 005 hectares and the development is divided into three phases. The Phase 1 works and the land formation works of Phase 2 have been completed while infrastructure work of Phase 2 is targeted for completion in early 2003.

    Phase 3 includes the southern portion of the Town Centre and the area is now being reclaimed. Reclamation for the Tseung Kwan O Industrial Estate has been completed. In preparation for further industrial development, a site at Fat Tong O will be developed for various industrial uses. Reclamation work is in progress.

    The MTR Tseung Kwan O Line was commissioned in August. With a daily patronage of some 130 000, it provides a convenient rail link between the new town and the metro area.

    The New Town has a current population of about 295 000 and this is forecast to increase to about 392 000 by 2011. A study is being carried out on the future development of the new town including a planned Western Coast Road, which would provide an additional link between the new town and the metro area.

Tin Shui Wai

Tin Shui Wai (about 430 hectares) has risen in the north-western New Territories as Hong Kong's eighth new town. Built on land reclaimed from low lying areas off Deep Bay, the initial Development Zone (220 hectares) now houses about 200 000 people as an integrated and balanced community.

    The area of about 210 hectares to the north in the Reserve Zone has been further developed, and construction of the engineering infrastructure to service the Reserve Zone is in progress. The population of Tin Shui Wai new town is expected to increase from 245 000 in 2003 to about 305 000 by 2011.

    At present, the new town is served by the Light Rail Transit which is being extended to cover the Reserve Zone and to link with the KCRC West Rail Station being constructed at Tin Fuk Road for completion by end-2003.

    Construction of over 60 hectares of wetlands to the north-east of the Tin Shui Wai Reserve Zone is in progress and is scheduled for completion in 2003. The wetland is being provided as an ecological mitigation measure for the land formation of the Reserve Zone and will form a buffer between the new town and the Ramsar site at Mai Po Marshes. The Hong Kong Wetland Park project is the first of its kind in Hong Kong and will provide a range of fresh and salt-water habitats for establishing wildlife. Phase 1 of the project, providing an Exhibition Pavilion, has already been completed. Phase 2 includes an Outdoor Park with a Visitor Centre and associated facilities. The park, scheduled to be completed by end-2005, is expected to become an attraction for local and overseas tourists.

Tung Chung

Hong Kong's ninth new town taking shape on the northern shore of Lantau Island is designed as a supporting community for the Hong Kong International Airport at Chek Lap Kok. The new town, served by a high-speed road link and the Mass Transit Railway, is being developed on about 760 hectares of land to modern international standards, with residential and commercial developments and all necessary supporting infrastructure.

    Phase 1 of the new town development was included in the Airport Core Programme and was completed in 1997 to accommodate about 20 000 residents in Tung Chung. Site formation and infrastructure works for Phase 2 were also completed. Works on Phase 3A started in March 1999 and were completed in late 2002. Improvements to Tung Chung Road between Pai Mei and Lung Tseng Tau commenced in mid-2002 for completion in late 2003.

    The Government will grant a franchise for the finance, design, construction, operation and maintenance of a cable car system linking Tung Chung and Ngong Ping. The franchise will be awarded on a build-operate-transfer basis for 30 years. This cable car system, expected to be completed in the second half of 2005, will add to the range of tourist attractions in Hong Kong. Upon completion of the system, visitors will be able to enjoy an approximately 5.7-kilometre ride between Tung Chung and Ngong Ping and admire the scenic views of Lantau and the airport. The cable car system will also provide an additional linkage among different attractions on Lantau, including the outdoor seated bronze Buddha, which is believed to be the largest of its type in the world.

North-East New Territories and North-West New Territories New Development

The planning and development study on the North-East New Territories is scheduled to be completed in 2003. The study has established the feasibility of developing Kwu Tung North (497 hectares) and Fanling North (192 hectares) as New Development Areas to house populations of 100 000 and 80 000, respectively.

    A planning and development study on the North-West New Territories is nearing completion. It has identified the Hung Shui Kiu area as a suitable New Development Area to accommodate a total population of about 160 000 and to provide container back-up sites. The total development area is about 435 hectares.

Islands District

Development works on other islands continue mainly to improve the living environment of existing residential districts. Reclamation, road and drainage works at the central and north-western parts of Peng Chau are near completion. Reclamation, road and drainage works at Yung Shue Wan on Lamma Island are also in progress. Construction of the north-eastern riverwall and site formation work adjacent to Lung Tin Estate in Tai O were substantially completed in July. Construction of a sheltered boat anchorage in Tai O is expected to start in early 2003 for completion in 2005. In Cheung Chau old town, detailed design of the Stage 2 improvement works to existing roads and drains is in progress. Construction is scheduled to commence in late 2003 for completion in late 2005.