Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang pledged Tuesday the improvement of infrastructure in Tseung Kwan O district of the New Territories, saying it lacks community facilities.

Speaking after visiting the district, Tsang said it has been one of the fastest-growing new towns in recent years, and so the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region(HKSAR) government will try to create a quality living environment to keep up with demand.

As the district's population is relatively young, leisure and recreational facilities have been inadequate.

"However, the HKSAR government has rectified the situation, including changing the land use of Tseung Kwan O Landfill in Area 77," he said.

The landfill will be converted into an area for leisure and recreational use, with walking trails, sitting-out areas and designated zones for flying kites and model planes. A soccer training center, the first of its kind in Hong Kong and expected to be completed by 2008, will also be built there by the Football Association.

Tsang then visited Jolly Place, a housing scheme for the elderly launched by the Housing Society and managed by Haven of Hope Christian Service.

"Although Hong Kong's population is aging, I am happy to see that non-government organizations, in support of government policy, are providing well-equipped housing facilities and organizing leisure and recreational activities to meet the physical and psychological needs of the elderly," Tsang said.

He then went to a shopping complex where he bought a T-shirt to welcome the forthcoming World Cup events and toured a youth center at Tong Ming Court.

Source: Xinhua