Tai Po Development - HKU Libraries

YUENLONG
Yuen Long occupies a strategic location in the middle of the
largest flood plain in the north-western part of the New
Territories, and is the traditional market centre for the
agricultural produce of the surrounding villages, farmlands
and fish ponds. Part of the old town may still be seen
to-day in the Kau Hui (Old Market) area.
It is 40 km by road from the existing urban areas of
Kowloon, 22 km from the Tsuen Wan New Town, 6.5 km
from Tuen Mun New Town, 16 km from Sheung Shui
(via San Tin) and Tai Po (via Lam Tsuen).
The planned development at Yuen Long will cover an area
of approximately 160 hectares.
Rapid development including the provision of infrastructure
during the past decade has resulted in an increase of the
town population to about 37,000 persons, mainly due to
influx from the surrounding countryside.
With further development of the town and its light industrial
area, a higher rate of population growth is envisaged. Its
present population is expected to grow to an ultimate
figure of 95,000 in the next 10 to 15 years when all the
building land presently reserved for residential,
commercial/residential uses and for public housing is
developed and occupied.
Some 15 to 20 per cent of the future population is
expected to seek jobs in the labour-intensive light industrial/
manufacturing sector. The proposed industrial estate at
Wang Chau, little more than a kilometre north of Yuen
Long town, will provide sites for special land-intensive type
industries similar to those in the Tai Po Industrial estate.
The Development Plan
With the territory-wide population increase, the demand
for more building land for various urban uses, the
improvement of the New Territories Circular Road, the
completion of the bulk of flood control schemes and other
major public works projects, more systematic development
of the town took place in accordance with planning
layouts in the mid '60s.
These planning layouts form the basis of the present
development plan of the market town. The principal
objective of the plan is to foster the growth of balanced
communities with adequate commercial, industrial
and community services in the further development and
redevelopment of the area.
Over the years, the town has been providing the main
employment opportunities for its hinterland population with
its private-run wholesale marketing facilities and service
industries.
The influence of industrialisation has however spread to this
relatively remote area and demand for proper industrial
premises has increased in recent years. This trend is
expected to continue in particular following the establishment
of labour-intensive light industrial/manufacturing sector.
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