The Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, visited Central and Western District today to see the latest infrastructure developments and the living conditions of bedspace apartment residents in the district.

Accompanied by the acting Director of Home Affairs, Mr Lui Hau-tuen, Mr Tung first went to Pier 3 of Central Reclamation Area where he was briefed by the Project Manager, Hong Kong Island and Islands Development Office of the Territory Development Department, Mr Cheung Tai-yan; and the Project Manager of the Mass Transit Railway Corporation, Mr Russell Black, on the latest developments in the area, the Airport Railway, its Hong Kong Station terminal and related property development.

Mr Tung noted that the reclamation and roadworks might have caused inconvenience to residents in the district. "However, these projects will benefit them in the long run and that the traffic condition will be greatly improved when the roadworks are completed by the middle of the year," he said.

His next stop was at the dried seafood shops on Des Voeux Road West. He joined other shoppers in sampling some of the traditional dried foodstuff favoured at Lunar New Year feasts.

Mr Tung then proceeded to visit a bedspace apartment occupied by singletons at Cadogan Street in Kennedy Town.

Mr Tung said, "I know that these bedspace apartments provide cheap and convenient accommodation to some grassroots singletons."

"But we are very concerned about the safety of these apartments and a licencing system has been implemented to monitor and ensure that they meet certain fire safety standards.

"To help address the accommodation demand by grassroots singletons, the Home Affairs Department has set up many hostels for them to improve their living standards.

"Additionally, the department has started a project to construct a 16-storey singleton hostel in Sham Shui Po with a capacity of 312 places. Each lodger will be provided with a partitioned room, equipped with basic facilities. The hostel will be completed around July this year.

"We also understand that some areas in Kennedy Town have already been included in the Urban Redevelopment Projects undertaken by the Land Development Corporation. The redevelopment will bring a modern and new appearance to the Central and Western District," he added.

Before concluding the visit, Mr Tung met with the provisional district board members and community leaders of Central and Western District to exchange views on district issues and future development.

The District Officer (Central and Western), Mrs Charlotte Li, also accompanied Mr Tung on the visit.