..
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75.
The principal questions which the developments in the New
Territories have thro a up are:
76.
a/ What forms administration and arrangements for local
consultation in the urbanised areas should take?
b/ What should be the standard of amenities provided in the
urbanised areas?
c/ Should arrangements for compensation for land resumption be
reviewed?
With regard to the methods and rates of compensation
for resumption of agricultural land I have taken note of the growing concern
expressed in the New Territories and by the Heung Yee Kuk and of recent
proposals made for a new approach. Your Government agrees that the time
is ripe for fresh thinking and the Secretary for the New Territories will
be speaking on this subject later in the debate.
77.
With regard to the undeveloped countryside: on the one hand, the
interests of the original inhabitants must be protected; and on the other,
the areas muust be used, developed and preserved for recreation and tourism.
Development and preservation are the responsibility of the Country Parks
Authority and its management stoff, and the interest of the inhabitants
are the concern of the District Officers in close collaboration with
Village Representatives and fural Committees.
78.
I should add that with the large numbers of visitors at week-ends
communications and electricity in the remoter areas have become an urgent
problem. I am glad to say that thanks to the efforts of the Telephone Company
and China Light and Power very satisfactory progress has been made with
the extension of telephones and electricity, and virtually all communities
are either now covered, or very shortly will be.
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