San Tin, the villagers believed the only way to save the village community was to form a development corporation whereby all landowners have an equal share of
share of the future development potential value of the land. Indeed in a letter from the regional commissioner /NW to the STDMC (LETTER F paragraph 6) it was emphasised that the constitution of the company should ensure that all landowners have an equal share of potential development value of the land.
In 1982 the government released details of the NTCR link between Sheung Shui and Yuen Long and details of the Lok Ma Chau border link, a section of which requires the resumption of land from some land owners in San Tin. The government promised that this road layout will upgrade the proposed San Tin development thus benefit the STDMC which is an
amalgamation of all the land owners in San Tin. As mentioned
earlier it is the Company's policy to develop San Tin and share the benefits of development equally between its members.
It is clear that the the governments proposals for the new trunk road together with its service roads integrated with the
San Tin Master Plan will increase the value of the
development. The government plans to resume land for the purpose of building this road and compensate the affected
landowners at the rates specified under zones D,G and F. These landowners compensated at these three rates will be
unable to reap the benefits which are due to the remaining
unaffected landowners who will later enjoy the increase in
value of their land due to the new road. Thus in effect they
are deprived of their right to the potential of the
has aligned the
development simply because the government has
route along their plots. This is in direct conflict with the
STDMC's constitution and also with the governments recommendation (LETTER F), that is, the allocation of the
benefits of development equally among all its members.
Although the San Tin Master Plan has not been officially approved, ie. gazetted, it has in principle been approved by EXCO (HK Policy forming body). The original layout design for
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