LAND, PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES
urban area. Additionally, an ex gratia Home Purchase Allowance is normally paid upon resumption of domestic units within the urban area.
During 1993, about 0.19 million square metres of private land was acquired in the New Territories to carry out various public works projects. The total land acquisition and clearance costs amounted to about $790 million. These projects included the Southeast New Territories Landfill at Tin Ha Wan in Tseung Kwan O, the thermal power station at Black Point in Tuen Mun, the Au Tau 'B' pumping station and the Western aqueduct in Yuen Long, the North Lantau Expressway (Phase II) on Lantau Island and a village sewerage disposal pipeline in the North District.
In the urban areas of Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, about $2.76 billion was paid in compensation for land and buildings acquired during the year for public works projects, either under compulsory powers or by agreement. These projects included the Ma Hang Redevelopment at Stanley, Rock Hill Street Extension in Sai Wan and open space development at Pak Tsz Lane in Sheung Wan.
Private streets continued to be resumed to facilitate their repair and maintenance by the government.
The Lands Administration Office was also much involved in acquisition and clearance work in connection with the implementation of urban renewal projects to be carried out by the Land Development Corporation and the Hong Kong Housing Society.
Land Disposal
All land in Hong Kong is held by the government, which sells or grants leasehold interests. Such grants and leases are made in accordance with the terms set out in Annex III to the Sino-British Joint Declaration on the Question of Hong Kong.
The new land to be granted is not to exceed 50 hectares a year, excluding land granted to the Hong Kong Housing Authority for public rental housing (the Land Commission may increase this limit and regularly does). The land disposal limit for 1993-94 is 127.8 hectares, with a five-hectare reserve. Premium income obtained from land transactions is shared equally, after deduction of the average cost of land production, between the Hong Kong Government and the future Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government.
Land grants and leases are normally made for terms expiring not later than June 30, 2047. They are made at premium and nominal rental until June 30, 1997, after which an annual rent equivalent to three per cent of the property's rateable value will apply.
A land sales programme is issued at the beginning of each financial year and updated regularly, showing the details of public auctions and tenders normally held each month. Land in the New Territories is often sold by way of tender, restricted to holders of land exchange entitlements. These entitlements were used in the past for the acquisition of land in the New Territories, but since 1983 are no longer issued.
As a result of the buoyant property market, the premium received from the sale of sites in all sectors of the market showed significant increases.
Although most government land available for private sector development is sold by public auction or tender, land is also made available at nominal premium to the Housing Authority for its public rental estates and Home Ownership Scheme, and to non-profit- making charitable, medical and educational institutions which operate schools, hospitals, and social welfare and other community services.
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