Sha Tin New Town 沙田新市鎮 | |
|---|---|
satellite town | |
) | |
| Nickname(s): Sha Tin | |
| Country | China |
| Provincial-level SAR | Hong Kong |
| Region | New Territories |
| District | Sha Tin District |
| Population (2004) | |
| • Total | 640,000[1] |
| Time zone | UTC+8 (Hong Kong Time) |
| Sha Tin New Town | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
) The town centre of Shatin New Town | |||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 沙田新市鎮 | ||||||||
| |||||||||
Sha Tin New Town, or known as Sha Tin-Ma On Shan New Town or Sha Tin Town is one of the satellite towns and new towns of Hong Kong. It is within the Sha Tin District, the New Territories. The New Town covers the neighbourhoods such as Sha Tin, Tai Wai, Fo Tan, Tai Shui Hang, Ma On Shan. The Shing Mun River runs through the middle of the town.
Development history
Development was started in the 1970s, and currently covers an area of 35.87 square kilometres with total developed area of about 2,000 hectares (4,900 acres).[1] As of 2004, it has a population of around 640,000 people.[1] The town centre houses a mall, New Town Plaza, the Sha Tin Public Library, Sha Tin Town Hall, and other community facilities.
Transport
Highways, roads and tunnels
The road transport between Shatin and Kowloon relies on Lion Rock Tunnel (completed in 1967), Tate's Cairn Tunnel (completed in 1988), Shing Mun Tunnel and Tai Po Road. The Tolo Highway was opened in September 1985. It connected Sha Tin Road and Tai Po Road, forming a connection system between the New Town and Tai Po New Town. Tate's Cairn Highway also connected Ma On Shan with Tolo Highway as well. The opening of Sai Sha Road in October 1988 provided a connection between Sha Tin and Sai Kung. The T3 Highway (Tsing Sha Highway) and Route No.8 (Cheung Sha Wan to Sha Tin Section) was completed in March 2008.
Public transport
The New Town has numerous bus routes connecting to the city centre and metro station from various populated zone in the Town. Beside bus services, minibus services are provided as well for residential areas with fewer people.
KCR (now East Rail line, MTR)
KCR, since merged with the former MTR, was essential to the development of new town. There are five East Rail line stations within the new town, namely Tai Wai, Sha Tin, Fo Tan, Racecourse and University (Chinese University). Part of the Tuen Ma line also lies within the district, which connects Hin Keng (situated at the southweatern part of Tai Wai) and Wu Kai Sha of Ma On Shan (situated at the northeastern part of Lee On Estate). Passengers can transfer to East Rail line at Tai Wai station.
Urban planning
Despite Sha Tin New Town includes Ma On Shan[2] and the town sometimes known as Sha Tin-Ma On Shan, Ma On Shan town has its own urban planning plan, the "Ma On Shan Outline Zoning Plan". The plan was amended most recently in 2020.[3] Neighbourhoods such as Sha Tin, Tai Wai, Fo Tan are belongs to "Sha Tin Outline Zoning Plan".[4]
Also note that the Science Park-Pak Shek Kok development has its own OZP too, and part of the area of that development, is belongs to Tai Po District instead.
References
- ^ a b c "Sha Tin New Town". Civil Engineering and Development Department. 1 July 2004. Archived from the original on 12 November 2004. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
- ^ "New Towns, New Development Areas and Urban Developments". Hong Kong: Civil Engineering and Development Department. 29 December 2020. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
- ^ "Approved Ma On Shan Outline Zoning Plan amended". Hong Kong Government. 16 October 2020. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
- ^ https://www1.ozp.tpb.gov.hk/
Further reading
- Jeffrey W. Cody and James R. Richardson (1997). "Urbanizing forest and Village Trees in Hong Kong's Sha Tin Valley, 1976-1997" (PDF). Traditional Dwellings and Settlements Review. IX (1): 21–33.
External links