CONFIDENTIAL
BY BAG
FM
NG KONG
CON DENTIAL
SAVING TELEGRAM
TO F C O TELNO 97 SAVING OF 28 APRIL 1975.
I RECEIVED IN REGISTRY No. 30
་
-7 MAY 1975
113-0
N.T. Heung Yee Kuk Petition on political reforms
the N.T.
I attach a draft reply to the petition addressed to Lord Goronwy-Roberts on 25th February, 1975 by the Chairman and Vice-Chairmen of the Heung Yee Kuk.
2.
Much of the petition is taken up with the Kuk's grievances about land matters in the New Territories, which have been dealt with in answer to previous petitions addressed to the Governor. The implementation of development schemes and the New Towns programme necessarily involves the resumption of private land and the removal of villages on a considerable scale. The Heung Yee Kuk are dissatisfied with the present arrangements for the resumption of land in these areas, mainly because of a fall in land values and a slowing down of private and, to some extent, Government development. They are pressing for change. The Secretary for the New Territories has formulated proposals which will be referred to Executive Council. If approved by that Council, they will then form a basis for further discussion with the Heung Yee Kuk. The reply to the petition makes this clear.
3.
The system of "5.2 exchange" referred to in para. 7 of the draft reply has been in force for many years. It provides for a landowner to surrender (where his land is needed for public purpose) 5 square feet of agricultural land in return for 2 square feet of building land; he must also pay a premium of the difference in value between the building land and the agricultural land, the former being far more valuable.
4.
The proposals for a semi-autonomous New Territories Administrative Council, with an Administrative High Commissioner responsible direct to the Governor, are new and absurd. Their primary object is to enhance the status of the Kuk, though they also demonstrate exasperation with Government procedures and dissatisfaction with its land policy. The Chairman of the Heung Yee Kuk is the principal, if not the sole, author of these proposals. His fellow councillors are on the whole practical men, who recognize that such constitutional change is neither practical nor desirable and are lending their support only because they hope that this may be an effective way of seeing that land compensation policies are adjusted to meet present circumstances. The draft makes the obvious point that, because the New Territories are becoming more, and not less, integrated with the rest of Hong Kong, it would be impracticable and undesirable to set up a separate administration.
5.
In accordance with usual practice, I suggest that the reply should be sent by the Colonial Secretary, on the direction of Lord Goronwy-Roberts.
erst
ACP.
10
CONFIDENTIAL
16.
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