Moving into new towns

In recent years, the population density of the urban areas has been getting higher and higher. Due to the insufficient supply of flats in the city center, the cost of a flat in  areas such as Causeway Bay and Mongkok is over $5,000 per square foot; it is too high to be afforded. People are moving to some `new towns' such as Tuen Mun and Ma On Shan where the cost of a flat is below $3,000 per square foot. In order to ease the flux of population, the government tends to provide a new way of life for the inhabitants in these areas. The new towns were expected to be similar to those of the Hong Kong Island and Kowloon in the provision of facilities, and work and educational opportunities. However, it seems that these expectations have not been fulfilled. In fact, there is a great difference in the aspects of transportation, shopping facilities, work opportunities and provision of schools. In this essay, I will show the areas in which  new towns are not successful, and suggest what the government should do to improve the situation.

Parents living in these new towns may find it difficult to have a long trip to take their children to school. Although there are kindergartens, primary schools or even secondary schools in some public housing estates in these areas, parents still hope  their children will  remain in their present school even if they are far  apart. Schools in these estates are newly established so that parents do not know whether or not these schools can provide a good education to their beloved children.

Apart from the education of the children, few work opportunities can be offered within the local district. With a poor transportation system, there are few potential customers. Small businesses can be found, and most of them are losing money. In order to survive, people have to work in other districts such as Tsuen Wan and Kwai Chung.

The government often claims the `new towns' have well developed transportation systems, and the residents can reach the urban areas in a short period of time, say, less than half an hour. In the  real situation, the development of transportation system in these new towns has not yet been completed when the residents move in. With the influx of population from 300,000 to 800,000 over the five years in Tuen Mun and Yuen Long areas, the flow of traffic in  Tuen Mun is high. Traffic accidents from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. are reported at least twice a week from Monday to Friday. In order to be on time, residents have to leave their places at 6:30 a.m. in order to reach their workplaces which are  located in Tsuen Wan, or other places which  they can reach by taking the MTR.

Although it takes time for these new towns to develop, the government can still do something to speed up the development of these areas. The government can have a better town planning with these areas. Sufficient school places should be allocated in `new towns'. It can also help to develop a better transportation system that is related to the development of an area directly. Furthermore, the government can establish government schools with good reputations and these new schools can provide  parents who live in new towns with more choices.

All in all, living in new towns is very convenient but the living conditions are  much better than those  of the urban areas where the  air is polluted. Furthermore, the cost of a flat in  these new towns is comparatively low, and it is suitable for the newly married couples who do not have monthly earnings. Therefore, living in new towns is their best choice. With the help of the government, the townsmen who are willing to move into these new towns will find life enjoyable.