ef:
局鄉界新
NEW TERRITORIES HEUNG YEE KUK
3.
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We at the Heung Yee Kuk cannot blindly agree with the political reason with which you rejected our remarks that the people of the New Territories load "an oppressive Colonial life" and are subjected to "political deception". The freedom of speech and action is a basic human right which the people of a democratic country enjoys. You believe that, where there is freedom of speech and action there is no political deception and oppression. But, on the other hand, what we have said is based on facts. From the facts in the documents presented to Lord Cornowy. Roberts and the information contained in the Joint Opinion of our Counsels, we believe that you have distorted the facts and made perfunctory excuses. Our belief is formed on the following grounds:-
(1) The Government has unilaterally ignored the 1898 Sino- British Convention and compulsorily purchased land from land- owners for uses other than those specified in the said conver- tion. Also, during such compulsory purchases of land, the Government has failed to give a "fair price" as compensation.
(2) When the Government enacted the Crown Lands Resumption Ordinance, Chapter 124, in 1900, it had eliminated the compen- sation for the potential value of the land under the pretext that it was "in force under the Lands Clauses Consolidation Acts in England" which is totally untrue.
(3) In 1905, the Government unilaterally made the Block Crown Leases in the form of Indontures, imposing restrictions on
the owners of New Territor es land, with the whole foundation of its policy resting on an assumption.
Wa believe that, previously, the enactment of laws for the adminis. tration of the New Territories was recommended by the members of the Executive Council and was subsequently passed by the members of the Legislative Council. There had never been any representation
ROAD.
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