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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1977
UNOFFICIAL MEMBER SEEKS MORE EQUITABLE COMPENSATION TO THOSE AFFECTED BY DEVELOPMENT
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THE HON. PETER C. WONG CALLED ON THE GOVERNMENT IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY TO BE MORE EQUITABLE IN ITS PAYMENT OF COMPENSATION TO PEOPLE DISTURBED OR DISLOCATED BY THE MASSIVE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME IN HONG KONG.
WHILE THE ULTIMATE AIM OF SUCH DEVELOPMENT WAS TO BENEFIT THE WHOLE OF HONG KONG, HE SAID, THE PROCESS ITSELF WAS NOT WITHOUT SACRIFICES AND ADEQUATE COMPENSATION IN CASH OR IN KIND HAD TO BE PROVIDED TO MAKE THE WOUND LESS PAINFUL.+
HE ELABORATED ON THE INADEQUACIES IN COMPENSATION IN EXISTING LEGISLATION OR PCL ICY RELATING TO LAND AND BUILDINGS.
MR. WONG SPOKE AT LENGTH ON LAND RESUMPTION, DANGEROUS BUILDINGS AND CLOSURE ORDERS, STREET ALTERATIONS, CROWN TENANTS AND TOWN PLANNING.
ON LAND RESUMPTION, MR. WONG POINTED OUT THAT WHILE THE GOVERNMENT SELDOM MADE ANY ATTEMPT TO ENFORCE LEASE CONDITIONS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES AND MIGHT EVEN HAVE ACCEPTED RATES AND PROPERTY TAX ASSESSED ON HOUSES BUILT ON AGRICULTURAL LAND, UPON RESUMPTION THE LAND WOULD ONLY BE COMPENSATED AS AGRICULTURAL LAND AND THE VALUE OF THE HOUSES ON IT WHOLLY IGNORED.
HE SUGGESTED A SOLUTION BY GIVING TWO EXAMPLES WHICH HE SAID WERE BOTH FAIR AND REALISTIC: GRANTING EX-GRATIA PAYMENT, AS ON THE CLEARANCE OF SQUATTER AREAS, AND AWARDING COMPENSATION AT THE HIGHER USER RATE, AS PRACTISED BY TENANCY TRIBUNALS FOR TENANTS OCCUPYING PRE-WAR DOMESTIC FLATS BUT USING THEM FOR COMMERCIAL OR INDUSTRIAL PURPOSES.
ON DANGEROUS BUILDINGS AND CLOSURE ORDERS, MR. WONG SUPPORTED THE EXISTING GOVERNMENT MEASURES TO RELIEVE HARDSHIPS CAUSED BY EMERGENCY CLOSURE ORDERS ON DANGEROUS BUILDINGS BUT FELT THAT FURTHER EFFORTS SHOULD BE MADE, THROUGH WELL-PLANNED DEPARTMENTAL CO-ORDINATION AND
CLEARLY-DEFINED POLICIES,
AS A PREVENTIVE MEASURE, HE SUGGESTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD INSPECT ALL AGING AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS BUILDINGS MORE FREQUENTLY AND THOROUGHLY TO ENABLE REPAIRS TO BE MADE IV TIME SO AS TO REDUCE THE NEED TO MAKE CLOSURE ORDERS.
/FURTHERMORE,