10. 8. 48.
56
(e) that a power of sale shall be exerciseable one month after notice of intention to exercise such power has been published in the Gazette unless (1) any cost incurred in clearance is paid and (ii) sufficient indication is given by a Crown Lessee of his intention to re-develop.
(f) that in order to avoid hardship it is necessary to permit an owner to, apply at his option to the Supreme Court or the Governor-in- Council, whereupon such power of sale shall be suspended until determination of such application.
(g) that consequential amendments are necessary to the Crown Rights (Re-entry) Ordinance, 1870, which amendments shall only apply to sites declared to be war damaged sites within the meaning of the suggested legislation.
CONFIDENTIAL
Appendix A-Draft Bill with Objects and Reasons.*
JJ
"J
39
B-Memorandum by Sir Man Kam Lo.
C-Memorandum by the Attorney General.
D-Note on Crown Lessee's Titles.
(Sgd.)
G. E. STRICKLAND
(Sgd.) E. H. SAINSBURY (Sgd.) A. E. LISSAMAN (Sgd.) Kwok CHAN.
Re:
War Damaged Property.
APPENDIX "B".
1. Although substantial progress has been made in the rehabilitation of war damaged properties, there are still very many sites on which the debris has NOT been cleared.
2. It seems to be abundantly clear:
(a) That the uncleared sites, with their debris and accumulated and ac- cumulating rubbish, constitute a grave menace to the public health to the Colony, being potential foci for serious epidemics,
(b) that about 30% of the owners are absent from the Colony or otherwise cannot be found, (and have defaulted in the payment of Crown Rents, thus rendering the sites liable for re-entry by the Crown).
(c) that the remaining 70% of the owners have not cleared the sites
because
(i) the cost of removal is prohibitive and
(ii) owing to the high cost of building, they cannot get an economic
return on rehabilitating their property and
(d) that as regards sites belonging to different owners, it would be difficult to call on individual owners to clear their respective lots, since all identi- fication and demarcation have been obliterated.
* Not reproduced.
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