exploitation in the New Territories, mainly of land. Three processes are adopted:-
1.
2.
3.
Re-assignment of land rights through unilateral leases;
Restriction on land usage by earmarking layouts with indefinite
development dates;
Resumption of land for sale by unjust legal procedures.
The compensation for land resumed in development areas by the Government
from the people is ten dollars per sq. ft., but when such land is regranted to the
people for development, they have to pay a premium of six hundred dollars per
square foot (the rate of premium for Shatin New Town Centre in 1976). From 1960
onwards, land resumed by the Government from the people amounts to fifty-five
million odd square feet. To date the total area of land owing to holders of land
exchange entitlements at the rate of 5:2 is fourteen million odd square feet. If
the proceeds from the Government's sale of vast areas of land in the New
Territories are spent for public construction in the New Territories, such
Government action will definitely gain the Heung Yee Kuk's support. However,
street-lighting is still wanting in about 80% of the New Territories villages
while water-supply is still lacking in about 70% of them. Considering that the
whole New Territories population exceeds 1.1 million and its area takes up 80%
of that of Hong Kong (excluding New Kowloon), there is still not one fully
equipped general hospital provided by the Government. Even in the Government
clinics, there is only one doctor for every ten thousand population. There is not
a single up-to-standard stadium, playground, park or large-size library; as for
art galleries and museums, there is not even a small-size one. Only in Tsuen Wan
can we find an up-to-standard swimming complex, but its construction expenses
were donated by the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club. In June 1976, twenty-eight shops
in Shatin, established about thirty years ago, were demolished. The total
compensation of about eight hundred thousand dollars was not enough to cover one-
tenth of the losses suffered by the shop operators or even the severance pay for
the discharged employees. In July 1974, when the Government resumed land from
villagers in Tai Nam Wu, Sai Kung, the compensation paid was merely seventy cents
per square foot despite the fact that the market value of the land there was then
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