THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1977
RELEASE OF ARMY LAND TO HK GOVERNMENT
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AT THE REQUEST OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT, THE UNITED KINGDOM AND HONG KONG GOVERNMENTS HAVE AGREED THAT LYEMÜN BARRACKS (72 ACRES), SHAM SHUI PO CAMP (12 ACRES), BOWRING CAMP IN NEW TERRITORIES (17 ACRES) AND TUDOR COURT IN KOWLOON (1 ACRE) WILL BE RELEASED BY THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE AS SOON AS THE REPROVISIONING OF ESSENTIAL FACILITIES ELSEWHERE HAS BEEN COMPLETED,
THE UNITS OF HM FORCES WHICH CURRENTLY OCCUPY THE AREAS TO BE RELEASED WILL BE RELOCATED IN AREAS ALREADY OCCUPIED BY THE GARRISON.
THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WILL MEET THE ESTIMATED COST (HK$158 MILLION) OF THE ESSENTIAL REPROVISION, AND WILL ALSO MEET THE COST (HK$58 MILLION) OF A NUMBER OF CAPITAL WORKS FOR THE GARRISON WHICH ARE ADDITIONAL TO THOSE PROVIDED FOR BY THE DEFENCE COSTS AGREEMENT WHICH CAME INTO FORCE ON APRIL 1, 1976.
THE EFFECT OF THESE ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE TO CONCENTRATE THE GARRISON'S FACILITIES AND IMPROVE ITS OPERATIONAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EFFICIENCY, AND TO RELEASE LAND IN THE URBAN AREAS TO THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT.
IT IS HOPED THAT THE SITE AT LYEMUN WILL BE USED FOR A PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATE AND FOR THE HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME. THE LAND AT SHAM SHUI PO WILL ALLOW A NUMBER OF IMPROVEMENTS TO BE MADE IN THE TOWN PLANNING OF THE AREA,
THIS FURTHER AGREEMENT DOES NOT AFFECT THE EXISTING DEFENCE COSTS AGREEMENT.
SIR DENYS REDEDICATES VICTORIA ROAD MEMORIAL
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A TIME CAPSULE SIMILAR TO THE ONE UNEARTHED LAST SEPTEMBER DURING THE DISMANTLING OF THE VICTORIA ROAD MEMORIAL WAS PLACED IN THE PLINTH OF THE MEMORIAL WHEN IT WAS REDEDICATED TODAY BY THE ACTING GOVERNOR, SIR DENYS ROBERTS.
THE CEREMONY, BEFORE AN AUDIENCE OF INVITED GUESTS, MARKED THE END OF QUEEN'S SILVER JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS IN HONG KONG.
SAID:
IN A SPECIAL MESSAGE INCLUDED IN THE NEW CAPSULE THE QUEEN
+I WAS MOST INTERESTED TO LEARN OF THE DISCOVERY OF THE TIME CAPSULE IN THE QUEEN VICTORIA DIAMOND JUBILEE MEMORIAL OF 1897.
/+THE ERECTION