The government has proposed expanding Ta Kwu Ling’s priority development area to about 250 hectares, prompting questions at the North District Council.
The proposed university-town campus zone would increase from 40 hectares to 75 hectares. A Development Bureau document submitted to the council says about 7 hectares would be reserved for a second campus of an arts academy.
Councillors warned that growing traffic could affect surrounding roads and spill back towards nearby older districts. One also questioned whether the Heung Yuen Wai Highway could cope with additional demand.
A chief engineer from the Civil Engineering and Development Department said its assessment considered a future scenario with about 37,000 people living in the development area, jobs created and nearby development also taken into account.
Legislator Yiu Ming said roads in the Ta Kwu Ling area were mostly two-lane and called for rail construction to keep pace with the campus, urging the government to publish timetables for the Northern Link eastern extension and the Northeast New Territories Line.
A councillor also questioned how the proposal would improve existing villages and integrate rural areas with urban development. The Development Bureau said rural revitalisation and beautification would be considered as part of its work on that integration.
In response to questions about flooding, authorities said the Drainage Services Department had implemented several short- and medium-term measures and would continue to monitor the situation.