For discussion
RESTRICTED
on 22nd November 1977
XCR(77)302 32 Copy No
MEMORANDUM FOR EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
Introduction
Crown Lands Resumption Ordinance
(Chapter 124)
CASTLE PEAK RANGE
KK 365
LKK 365
17 NOY
M
(AU)
A total of 22 private lots or portions of lots comprising 50,715.6 square metres (545,899 square feet ) of agricultural land are situated within the Castle Peak Range. As a result of negotia- tions, 12 lots with a total area of 19, 853,4 square metres (213, 701 square feet) were acquired by the Ministry of Defence by way of five-year leases at a yearly rental of $3,090 per acre with an option to renew for a further period of two years, Of the said 12 leases, 11 commenced from 1st January 1973 and the other from 1st January 1975.
A
Proposal
2
Attempts have been made by the Regional Estate Surveyor/Property Services Agency for the Ministry of Defence to lease the remaining 10 lots or portions thereof on similar terms but they have not been successful. In order to enable a free and uninterrupted use of the Castle Peak Range by the Army and as there is no other recourse, it is recommended that the remaining 10 lots be acquired by resumption under the Crown Lands Resumption Ordinance. The area to be resumed amounts to a total of 30, 862.3 square metres (332, 198 square feet) of agricultural land.
The use of the ranges
3
The private lots to be resumed all lie inside the boundaries of firing area D as defined in the first schedule of the Defences (Firing Areas) Ordinance (Chapter 196) as shown on the plan at Annex A. Firing Area D is in frequent and regular use by the Army and in a typical year firing takes place on a total of about 130 days. It is the only field firing range in Hong Kong.
4
A field firing range, unlike a classification range where targets and firers are in fixed positions, is an area within which firing can take place anywhere provided that the safety templates for
C.S. 84
RESTRICTED