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MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1974
TUEN MUN LAND MAY BE SOLD BY TENDER
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IN ORDER TO ELIMINATE SPECULATION IN INDUSTRIAL REAL ESTATE, IT IS PROPOSED THAT SOME LAND IN TUEN MUN BE OFFERED FOR SALE BY TENDER.
THIS WAS DISCLOSED TODAY BY THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR. DAVID AKERS-JONES AT A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE HONG KONG COTTON SPINNERS 'ASSOCIATION.
MR. AKERS-JONES SAID THE SUCCESSFUL TENDERER WOULD BE REQUIRED TO PRODUCE EVIDENCE THAT HE HAD THE NECESSARY CAPITAL RESOURCES AND REAL INTENTION TO DEVELOP THE LAND IMMEDIATELY UPON PURCHASE.
+BY THIS MEANS I WOULD HOPE TO ELIMINATE THE SPECULATOR, + HE SAID.
MR. AKERS-JONES ALSO REVEALED THAT ANOTHER 400,000 SQ. FT. OF LAND IN TUEN MUN WOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR SALE NEXT YEAR.
HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD CHANGED ITS LAND POLICY IN ORDER TO PERMIT THE SALE BY PRIVATE TREATY OF LARGE SITES FOR NEW INDUSTRIES INTRODUCING NEW SKILLS AND TECHNOLOGY TO HONG KONG,
+THIS WAS A RADICAL DEPARTURE FROM A PRINCIPLE WHICH HAD BEEN A CORNERSTONE OF OUR LAND POLICY FOR A HUNDRED YEARS.
+HOWEVER, WE HAVE RESISTED THE ALL-OUT CHANGE FROM OUR POLICY OF LETTING THE MARKET DECIDE THE PRICE AND THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH OUR INDUSTRIAL LAND IS SOLD. I BELIEVE THIS IS WISE BECAUSE THE PRIVATE INDUSTRIALIST KNOWS BEST WHAT IS A VIABLE ENTERPRISE IN OUR CIRCUMSTANCE, HE ADDED.
MR. AKERS-JONES SAID IT HAD BEEN ARGUED THAT THERE WAS A NEED TO MAKE SOME LAND AVAILABLE FOR LESS INTENSIVE USE WITHIN THE PLANNED AREAS OF THE NEW TOWNS THAT IS, LAND FOR LOW RISE BUILDINGS FOR CAPITAL-INTENSIVE FACTORIES EMPLOYING A RELATIVELY SMALL LABOUR FORCE.
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LAND IN THESE INDUSTRIAL ESTATES, HE SAID, WOULD BE LEASED OR SOLD DIRECT TO APPLICANTS AT A PRICE WHICH WOULD PROTECT THE CAPITAL INVESTED IN THE DEVELOPMENT.
IN HONG KONG, HE ADDED, WE WERE NOT TIED TO THE PURSUIT OF PURELY POLITICAL OBJECTIVES WHICH COULD DAMAGE THE ECONOMY. +WE ARE FREE TO PURSUE SENSIBLE POLICIES WHICH DIRECTLY BENEFIT THE PEOPLE AND WE ARE ABLE TO RESPOND AND CHANGE THOSE POLICES FAIRLY QUICKLY WHEN THERE IS A NEED TO DO SO.+
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