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Thursday, November 2, 1972
CHANGES SUGGESTED IN LAND RESUMPTION POLICY
The Hon. Oswald Cheung, speaking on Government's policy on the
development of the New Territories today called for the early implementation
of the decisions that had already been made.
He told the Legislative Council that it was comparatively easy to
make decisions, but it was extremely difficult to get them carried out.
He welcomed the Governor's outline of the policy, which he said was
indicative of "far reaching and fundmental changes."
Referring to land resumption, he said there had been "general
satisfaction" in the New Territories with the Letter B Scheme whereby the
Government agreed to give land in exchange for land resumed.
But, he said, there had been "fairly acute dissatisfaction" in
cases to which this scheme did not apply, and in particular where land outside
a layout area was resumed.
In these cases, the landowner either sells by private treaty to
the Crown, or he takes his case for assessment of compensation before a land
Resumption Tribunal.
a Letter B.
In either case, he gets compensation that is worth much less than
Mr. Cheung described it as "illogical" to give different treatment
to land resumed within a layout area and land resumed outside; in both cases
the land is required for a public purpose.
/Mr. Cheung