more then ten dollars per square foot. In 1975, the estate duties imposed on the
land of Lantao Island Villagers were valued at as high as six dollars per square
foot while the market value of the land there was only one dollar per square foot
then. As a result of the diversion of irrigation water into Shek Pik Reservoir by
the Government, land became barren and uncultivable. In Lantao Island District
comprising the four villages of Mui wo, Tung Chung, Tai O and Lantao South - there
is still not a single Government secondary school despite its total area being
double of that of the Hong Kong Island and its population reaching thirty thousand.
All the instances mentioned above are obvious facts. The Heung Yee Kuk
bears the tasks of improving the living condition of the New Territories
inhabitants, creating changes for their education, increasing medical services
and fostering recreational activities. The opinions voiced by the Heung Yee Kuk
today tally with the desires of every New Territories inhabitant.
What is the motive of the Heung Yee Kuk in organising a Delegation to
London to make representations to officials of the British Government? It is
because the Heung Yee Kuk has not yet gained the status of a New Territories
Council. It is still merely a consultative body to the Hong Kong Government.
There is no representative from the Heung Yee Kuk to sit in the Executive and
Legislative Councils. Moreover, since none of the Unofficial members of the two
Councils are New Territories people, they are out of touch with the New
Territories people's actual living condition and are unable to comprehend the
extraordinary situation in the New Territories. Therefore, after the Heung Yee
Kuk's repeated proposals to the Hong Kong Government have been turned down, the
only alternative is to appeal to officials of the British Government in London.
The Heung Yee Kuk's reasons and proposals for social reforms in the
New Territories are in keeping with the needs of the present situation and in
conformity with the desires of the people. They are listed separately in the
attached Appeal for your kind consideration.
III CONCLUSION
The New Territories people have to reform their own society and to
create their own living condition to meet the demand of the extraordinary
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