Written Answers
26 JANUARY 1977
619
and to which no reply has been received to date.
Mr. Luard: The Hong Kong Govern- ment offered the Crown lessee a land ex- change entitlement or cash for the re- sumption of the land at Sha Tin market, but this offer was not accepted. The land was held in agricultural status, and the owner was offered an equivalent of £54,000 an acre. The land has reverted to the Crown under the Crown Land Resumption Ordinance. The owner may still accept the cash offer, or may make a claim before the Land Tribunal. The tenants who were operating the shops and market stalls on the land have, with one exception, accepted the ex gratia compensation offered to them. In the one outstanding case the amount of com- pensation has now been agreed, and arrangements are being made for pay-
ment.
Mr. Parry asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much was paid for the acquisition of land in Shatin Market in the New Ter- ritories, Hong Kong, by the Government; and how the Government intends to dis- pose of this land.
Mr. Luard: As I have said in answer to another of my hon. Friend's Questions today, the owner of the land in question was offered the equivalent of £54,000 an acre, but did not accept. This offer still stands, or the owner may make a claim before the Land Tribunal. The land in question has been acquired for the con- struction of part of the main trunk road through Sha Tin.
Mr. Parry asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the average waiting time hon. Members can expect before a reply is received to written queries to Hong Kong Government Departments.
Me. Luard: Hong Kong Government Departments make every effort to answer written queries with the minimum amount of delay. This will normally be about two weeks from the receipt of a letter. If the information is not readily avail- able an interim reply is sent. As I have explained in answer to another of my hon. Friend's Questions today, there was a misunderstanding about the written inquiries that he made of Hong Kong
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Written Answers
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Government Departments during his visit to Hong Kong.
Banabans
Mr. Lee asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he intends to make an ex gratia payment as suggested by Mr. Justice Megarry in the course of his judgment in Tito and others v the Attorney-General; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Luard: My right hon. and noble Friend said on 24th January in another place that Her Majesty's Government have for some time been concerned about
the future welfare of the islands in this
part of the Pacific, and specifically the future of the Banaban community. We have for long intended to help the Banabans, subject to the results of the legal actions. Her Majesty's Govern- ment's thinking has not, therefore, been essentially at variance with the Vice- Chancellor's remarks about obligations towards the Banabans. We have had a number of discussions with the partner Governments of Australia and New Zealand and we put certain proposals to them last year to help the Banabans secure their future after phosphate revenues end. Our partners responded that it sympathetically but indicated would be difficult in practice to reach firm conclusions in advance of the judgments.
Our thinking and discussions have been, and will continue to be conducted in close consultation with the Govern- ments of Fiji, Australia and New Zealand, as well as the Gilbert Islands and the Banaban leaders. Our aim is to achieve as soon as possible a settlement which takes account of the legitimate interests of all the parties concerned in the area, including the Banabans.
To assist in achieving such a solution including its constitutional aspects. we are arranging for Mr. Richard Posnett, the former Governor of Belize, to visit the area as soon as possible and to report directly to my right hon. and noble Friend.
Taiwan
Mr. Wall asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why he took steps to prevent the Gov- ernment of Taiwan from purchasing
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