Sha Tin Sha Tin is located in the eastern part of the New Territories to the north of Kowloon. It occupies an area of about 6,940 hectares bounded by ranges of hills in the east, south and west including Ma On Shan, Buffalo Hill, Tate’s Cairn, Lion Rock, Beacon Hill, Golden Hill, Needle Hill and Grass Hill, and by the Tolo Harbour in the north. The Shing Mun River flows across Sha Tin in a southwest to northeast direction into Sha Tin Hoi. The valley areas and the lowland flood plain have provided opportunities for human settlement. Sha Tin comprises the Sha Tin area, Ma On Shan area and the adjacent rural areas. The Sha Tin area is located in the lowland and valley areas. The Ma On Shan area adjoins the Sha Tin area at Tai Shui Hang and stretches northeastward along the eastern coast of Sha Tin Hoi to as far as Nai Chung. The development of Sha Tin began with a population of about 20,000 in 1973 and has expanded to accommodate a population of about 617,000 in June 2001. Since the earliest years, Hong Kong has been beset by a lack of suitable building land. (fig.1) The New Territories, largely mountain country, contained limited areas of flat land around the older settlements and their development was largely hindered by the Kowloon foothills and by lack of major public utility services.1 In October 1972, the then Governor-in-Council approved a large-scale housing programme with the aim to provide adequate housing for 1.8 million people by the mid-1980s. More than half of this new housing was planned to be provided in the new towns. Sha Tin, Tuen Mun and Tsuen Wan were the first generation new towns designated by the Government. The Government’s decision to develop new towns in the New Territories was the first real, planned attempt to breach the physical barrier of the Kowloon foothills. Planning Concept of Sha Tin The Sha Tin New Town is a linear-shaped, cellular development concentrated along the natural valleys of the Shing Mun River. The basic idea of developing the Sha Tin New Town is to provide a balanced community with reasonable self-containment where people can work, play, grow and learn in a pleasing and enjoyable environment.2 The physical planning of the New Town is largely constrained by the existing topography and 1. http://www.pland.gov.hk/pland_en/press/publication/nt_pamphlet02/stn_html/geo.html Sha tin fig.1 Land Reclamation in Hong Kong. railway lines. In planning for different land uses, consideration has been given to placing higher intensity residential and industrial uses on the valley floor and reclamation areas and lower intensity residential uses on higher ground. Although Sha Tin is situated not far from north of Kowloon, to which it is linked both by road and rail, the area remained largely rural until the 1970s. fig.2 Sha Tin, main reclamation area The first plan for Sha Tin was prepared by the Town Planning Board in 1961 and was subsequently approved by the then Governor-in-Council. This plan provided for a population of 360,000 with 2. http://www.pland.gov.hk/pland_en/press/publication/nt_pamphlet02/stn_html/concept.html fig.3 Sha Tin, main reclamation area The first plan for Sha Tin was prepared by the Town Planning Board in 1961 and was subsequently approved by the then Governor-in-Council. This plan provided for a population of 360,000 with densities of up to 750 persons per hectare. Sha Tin was seen merely as a dormitory suburb of Kowloon at that time although a limited amount of industrial land was proposed.3 With a view to alleviating the congestion problems in the urban areas, there was a need to include substantial resettlement estates in Sha Tin. Thus, a review of the 1961 plan to allow higher density residential and industrial developments was necessary. A revised draft development plan was prepared in the early 1970s to provide for an ultimate population of about 500,000. With the beginning of large scale reclamation in Sha Tin New Town since the early 1970s, the population had built up rapidly. fig.4 Sha Tin, 1982 3. http://www.pland.gov.hk/pland_en/press/publication/nt_pamphlet02/stn_html/hist.html fig.5 Sha Tin, 1987 fig.6 Sha Tin, 2008 fig.7 Sha Tin, Shing Mun River fig.8 Sha Tin, Shing Mun River fig.9 Sha Tin, Outline Zoning Plan In 1979, the Government approved the development of Ma On Shan as an extension of the Sha Tin New Town. In 1983, the Ma On Shan Transport Study was endorsed proposing a population threshold of 150,000 in Ma On Shan as part of an overall threshold of 704,000 for Sha Tin and Ma On Shan combined. In 1986, the Ma On Shan Development Review was completed and the recommendation that the population of Sha Tin New Town be limited to 750,000 was endorsed.4 Ma On Shan fig.10 Sha Tin and Ma On Shan 4. http://www.pland.gov.hk/pland_en/press/publication/nt_pamphlet02/stn_html/hist.html fig.11 Existing Outline Zoning Plan. - http://www1.ozp.tpb.gov.hk/gos/default.aspx? fig.12 Existing Outline Zoning Plan and Uses - http://www1.ozp.tpb.gov.hk/gos/default.aspx? Ma Liu Shui Reclamation proposal The Development Bureau, the Civil Engineering and Development Department and the Planning Department commenced a study on “Enhancing Land Supply Strategy: Reclamation Outside Victoria Harbour and Rock Cavern Development” (hereafter called “Enhancing Land Supply Strategy”) in 2011 with aims to assess the feasibility of enhancing land supply through two land supply options: reclamation outside Victoria Harbour and RCD. Based on the site selection criteria confirmed in Stage 1 PE and the broad technical assessment, we identified a few potential reclamation and RCD sites for further consideration and public consultation in Stage 2 PE exercise. They included five near-shore reclamation sites namely Lung Kwu Tan, Siu Ho Wan, Sunny Bay, Ma Liu Shui and Tsing Yi Southwest. We also observed the potential of building artificial islands in the central waters. As for RCD, we suggested investigating the feasibility of relocating three government facilities, namely Diamond Hill Fresh Water and Salt Water Service Reservoirs, Sai Kung Sewage Treatment Works and Sham Tseng Sewage Treatment Works, into cavern as pilot schemes for cavern development.5 Ma Liu Shui site Just one of five sites proposed by the government for reclamation has won public support. But the novel idea of artificial islands garnered a more positive response, the latest report commissioned by the government shows. Of the five locations the government suggested for land reclamation near the shore, the controversial Ma Liu Shui site in Sha Tin near Chinese University received the strongest opposition. The proposals are part of the administration’s plan to provide more land for housing to cope with the city’s rising demand. But a site in Lung Kwu Tan in Tuen Mun, as well as sites in Siu Ho Wan and Sunny Bay on Lantau Island, were also rejected by the majority of respondents. “There was particularly strong resistance against the potential reclamation site at Ma Liu Shui from residents [living nearby] ... and some students of [Chinese University],” the report compiled by the University of Hong Kong’s social sciences research centre noted. Respondents cited the possible impact on existing community and transportation services, as well as on the coastal landscape and marine ecology, as key concerns with the proposed sites.6 5. http://www.cedd.gov.hk/eng/landsupply/index.html 6. http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1408102/report-reveals-publics-rejection-government-plans-land-reclamation Science Park CUHK Campus Ma Liu Shui Reclamation (STSTW) Sha Tin Treatments Works Sha Tin Racecourse fig.13 Study area fig.14 STSTW, Sha Tin treatment Works fig.15 STSTW, Sha Tin treatment Works fig.16 Evolution of STSTW fig.17 Relocation Proposal of STSTW Future land use What is the future land use of the existing Sha Tin Sewage Treatment Works site after relocation? The Government will aim at a balanced development on the land vacated taking into consideration the social needs. The preliminary idea at present is that the site would be used for housing and other beneficial uses, including community facilities as well as recreation areas such as waterfront promenade, with a view to improving the community and the environment for the sustainable development of Hong Kong. The whole relocation project is expected to complete by around 2027. The Government would undertake a detailed planning and engineering study for the released site at several years before the completion of the relocation project. The planning and engineering study will cover technical and impact assessments on the proposed land use, as well as public consultation.7 7. http://www.ststwincaverns.hk/page.php?l=info_faq&p=7&lang=en Site Photos fig.20 Relocation Proposal of STSTW fig.21 Sha Tin Racecourse fig.22 Hong Kong Science Park https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GikPPph144o fig.23 Campus of The Chinese University of Hong Kong CUHK fig.23 Campus of The Chinese University and Science Park .