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Wednesday, July 19, 1972
NEW LAW FOR CLEARING CROWN LAND
The Director of Public Works, the Hon. J.J. Robson, said today
many of the articles illegally stored on Crown land could block drains
with serious consequences in the event of heavy rains.
He pointed out that illegal storage on Crown land was prevalent
today and that it was very necessary to introduce law to prevent such
continued practice.
Mr. Robson was speaking in the Legislative Council on the Crown
Land Bill 1972 which provides for a simple procedure for the clearance
of unlawfully occupied or used Crown land.
This provision, he said, empowers the District Commissioner,
New Territories, the General Manager of the Railway or himself to serve
a notice requiring the unlawful occupation to cease within a specified period.
"If the trespasser does not comply with this notice within the
period laid down, he may be removed from the land and the Crown may take
possession of anything remaining on it which then becomes government
property to be disposed of as thought fit."
In event of any one failing to comply with any notice requiring
him to cease unlawful occupation, he will be committing an offence and
shall be liable on conviction to a fine of $10,000 and to six months'
imprisonment, he added.
Under the new Bill, Mr. Robson said, mere unlawful occupation of
Crown land shall cease to be a criminal offence.
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