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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 1976
RESTRICTIONS ON UNDESIRABLE DEVELOPMENT OF GARDEN ESTATES UNDER CONSIDERATION
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THE GOVERNMENT IS CONSIDERING A PROPOSAL TO ENACT LEGISLATION WHICH WOULD PROVIDE THE IMPOSITION OF APPROPRIATE LEASE RESTRICTIONS ON GARDEN ESTATE BUILDING SCHEMES, SUCH AS CONVERTED MOTELS IN KOWLOON TONG.
IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. P.G. WILLIAMS, THE ACTING ENVIRONMENT SECRETARY, THE HON, ALAN ARMSTRONG-WRIGHT, SAID THE VAGUENESS OF LEASE CONDITIONS THAT APPLIED AND THE DIFFICULTIES IN MODIFYING THEM HAD HINDERED THE GOVERNMENT FROM TAKING EFFECTIVE ACTION TO CONTROL UNDESIRABLE DEVELOPMENT.
HE SAID, +UNLESS AN OWNER OF A LOT IN THE KOWLOON TONG ESTATE FAILS TO FOLLOW THE PRESCRIBED PROCEDURES IN THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE, THERE IS LITTLE WHICH CAN BE DONE BY GOVERNMENT EITHER UNDER THE LAW OR LEASE, TO PREVENT CONVERTING HIS PREMISES INTO A SO-CALLED MOTEL.
+BECAUSE THIS ESTATE IS CONSIDERED TO BE WHAT IS KNOWN LEGALLY AS A BUILDING SCHEME+, OWNERS OF OTHER LOTS IN THE ESTATE MIGHT BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE SOMETHING BY CIVIL ACTION AGAINST HIM, BUT, AS FAR AS I KNOW, NONE HAS YET TRIED TO DO SO, HE ADDED.
NO EVIDENCE OF PUBLIC CONCERN OVER HIRE-PURCHASE PRACTICES
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THE GOVERNMENT HAS STILL RECEIVED NO EVIDENCE OF PUBLIC CONCERN OVER THE PRACTICES OF FIRMS ENGAGED IN THE HIRE PURCHASE BUSINESS, SAYS THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON, PHILIP HADDON-CAVE.
IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. LI FOOK-WOO, MR. HADDON- CAVE SAID IT WAS UNDERSTOOD HOWEVER THAT THE CONSUMER COUNCIL HAD RECEIVED COMPLAINTS AND IT WAS CONSIDERING WHETHER TO MAKE FORMAL REPRESENTATION TO THE GOVERNMENT.
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY POINTED OUT THAT THE HON. P.C. WOO ASKED THE SAME QUESTION IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN 1970 AND 1974.
IN THE FIRST INSTANCE THE THEN ATTORNEY GENERAL INDICATED THAT IN THE ABSENCE OF EVIDENCE SHOWING THE PUBLIC NEEDED PROTECTION FROM MALPRACTICES OR EXPLOITATIONS, SUCH LEGISLATION WAS NOT JUSTIFIED.
ON THE SECOND OCCASION THE ACTING FINANCIAL SECRETARY REPLIED THAT THE POSITION HAD NOT CHANGED AND ADDED THAT SHOULD THE GOVERNMENT RECEIVE EVIDENCE THE MATTER WOULD BE RECONSIDERED.
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