It is suggested that Section 12(e) of the Crown Lands Resumption Ordinance Chapter
124 be repealed forthwith. Section 12(c) is as follows:-
12.
13.
"no compensation shall be given in respect of any expectancy or
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probability of the grant or renewal or continuance, by the Crown or by
any person, of any licence, permission, lease or permit whatsoever...
The Heung Yee Kuk is also aggrieved at the present policy of wholesale
resumption of land within the layout plan for the new towns. Apart from the
doubtful legality of wholesale resumption of land, the policy is oppressive.
'Where land within the plan of the layout area is in private ownership and is of
suitable area, the landowner should be given the opportunity of an in situ exchange.
Land values are increased by new town developments. Profits therefrom
should go in part to the landowners whose land has been acquired for the new
developments. Apart from the profit on the sale of land in the new towns Government
receives considerable revenue by way of stamp duty on subsequent transactions. In
some cases, although the land resumed is for "public purposes" in fact such land
is subsequently sold by Government at public auctions, with terms favouring
development. It therefore happens that land resumed by the Government at about
$3.00 per square foot compensation to the landowner is then sold at a public
auction for several hundred dollars per square foot. Cases such as these cause
the utmost resentment on the part of the expropriated owners. The Heung Yee Kuk
suggests that where such instances occur (which ought, if land is resumed for
genuine public purposes, to be rare) the former landowner should share in the
profit derived from resale. It is suggested that for land within a layout plan
the owner should receive 1/6 of the proceeds of sale realized and for land outside
a layout plan should receive 1/12.
14.
In removing villages for public purposes, all the traditional privileges
of the villagers should be preserved. Their resite premises should be granted
title deeds and not be treated as new grant lots. Otherwise restrictions are
imposed and the original status of the original villagers is altered. Further
Goverment should provide permanent resettlement prior to clearance.
15.
In the case of clearance for public purposes, licensed shop-operators
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