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14
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Wednesday, March 28, 1973
"The cost of all this has yet to be fully assessed but for the
coming financial year alone it is proposed to seek supplementary provision
of $30 million for acquisition of properties together with $10 million
for clearances, demolitions, etc."
With regard to this year's provision of only $40 million for
urban renewal, Mr. Robson said that this "reflects slower progress on
acquisition of land than was originally foreseen."
This was due almost wholly to the shortage and the difficulty
of recruiting and retaining professional estate staff in the Crown
Lands and Survey Office.
Tempo Of Development
Nevertheless, Mr. Robson said although only two third of the
professional posts were filled, he managed to keep all the New Territories
estate surveyor posts manned and he expressed the hope that their
output could be expanded to keep pace with the increasing tempo of
development in the New Territories.
On the question of the need to place more land on the market
as speedily as possible, Mr. Robson said as far as the urban areas are
concerned, "every endeavour has been made to search out any residential
land that can be sold without resort to clearance."
"As regards the old Naval Yard, all that can be sold has been,
the remainder will be required for a considerable period for the construction
of the mass transit line or its associated works."
/However,