HONG KONG: About 6,000 residents will have to move to make way for the establishment of three new towns in northeastern New Territories that will house about 131,000 people, the government has announced.

New residents will be able to move in from 2019 in phases, a government spokesman said.

The areas of Kwu Tung North, Fanling North, Ping Che and Ta Kwu Ling currently have about 8,000 residents, he said.

He estimated that about 3,600 people to be displaced now live in Kwu Tung Village while the remaining 2,400 residents are scattered in Dills Corner Garden and areas nearby.

He said the compensation package has yet to be set, but pledged that the government will study residents' demands.

So Sai-chi, the chairman of the North District Council, expects some villagers may oppose the development due to their strong sense of roots there.

"But we have to strike a balance between conservation and development," he said, adding, "The makeover will help make the North district more prosperous."

He also said the development will help meet the surging housing demand. "Many poor people are waiting for public housing flats. The new towns can allow them to have a home sooner," he said.

A resident at Kwu Tung Village surnamed So said, "I am willing to move out if I get good compensation."

Another villager surnamed Chan said, "Of course, I don't want to move out, as I have been living here for so long. But can I overturn the government's decision when it acquires the land?"

The spokesman said about 60 percent of the 805-hectare area is privately owned and it is still unknown how the government will join hands with the private sector to develop the area.

He expects about 45,200 jobs will be created in the new towns.

As a consequence, it is inevitable that some residents will have to cross districts to work.

The government spokesman said the overall job-to-population ratio in the three new towns will be higher than those of many other new towns which have been developed for years.

Under the plan unveiled yesterday, Kwu Tung North will provide about 12,000 public housing flats, some 10,000 private homes and land for commercial development.

A hotel is also expected to be opened up near the Long Valley ecological area, the government spokesman said.

The MTR will link up the area with Lok Ma Chau and Sheung Shui, he said.

The Fanling North area will have about 17,500 flats and various government facilities, authorities proposed.

In the Ping Che and Ta Kwu Ling areas, it is expected there will be industrial areas and about 6,500 private flats.

The blocks in Kwu Tung North and Fanling North can be up to 35-storeys high, while those in Ping Che and Ta Kwu Ling are capped at 10 stories, authorities said.

The Legislative Council's development panel will discuss the proposal next Tuesday.

Members of the public can voice their views on the plan until next year.

(HK Edition 11/18/2009 page1)