WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1978
1
NEW LAND SOURCES FOR DEVELOPMENT SUGGESTED
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SENIOR UNOFFICIAL LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOR, THE HON. OSWALD CHEUNG, SAID TODAY THAT HONG KONG COULD ACQUIRE ADDITIONAL LAND FOR DEVELOPMENT FROM THE PLAINS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES AND BY RESITING THE AIRPORT OFF THE NORTH COAST OF LANTAU.
LEADING OFF THE DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON THE MOTION OF THANKS FOR THE GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS, MR. CHEUNG SAID THE ARGUMENT ABOUT THIS LAND SOURCE IS THAT IT WOULD BE +HIDEOUSLY EXPENSIVE + TO RESUME THE PLOTS WITHIN THE PLAINS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES BECAUSE THEY ARE ALL WELL-POPULATED AND ALL THE LAND IS PROBABLY IN PRIVATE OWNERSHIP AND THE NECESSITY TO PRESERVE GREEN AND PLEASANT LAND.
+YET WITHIN THE LAST 25 YEARS I HAVE SEEN THE CONVERSION OF RICE FIELDS TO ECONOMICALLY MORE PRODUCTIVE CROP AND VEGETABLE FARMS, TO NURSERIES FOR PLANTS AND FLOWERS, TO FISH PONDS, TO CHICKEN BATTERIES AND PIG PENS, AND GRADUALLY TO COTTAGE FACTORIES- THE PROGRESSION IS RELENTLESS, AND IN MY JUDGMENT, IRREVERSIBLE. AND IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IT IS BEST TO TAKE THE BULL BY THE HORNS, + MR. CHEUNG SAID.
HOWEVER, MR. CHEUNG SAID HE DID NOT ADVOCATE THAT THE GOVERNMENT NECESSARILY PROCEED BY THE USUAL LAYOUT AND RESUMPTION.
+BUT GIVEN THAT WE DECIDE IT IS DESIRABLE TO TURN AGRICULTURAL LAND TO RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL USES, IT WILL BE NECESSARY TO SIT DOWN AND THINK VERY HARD ON HOW BEST IT WOULD BE TO BRING ABOUT SUCH CONVERSION, ON TERMS THAT ARE FAIR TO THE PRESENT OWNERS, HE SAID.
ON THE SECOND LAND SOURCE, MR. CHEUNG SAID IT WOULD BE A +DIRECT AND DOUBLE + BENEFIT RESULTING FROM A DECISION TO BUILD A NEW AIRPORT OFF THE NORTH COAST OF LANTAU,
MR. CHEUNG SAID IF IT IS SITED AS PRESENTLY CONTEMPLATED, IT WILL FREE KAI TAK FOR BUILDING, AND A +NOT INCONSIDERABLE+ HECTARAGE OF PRIME LAND WILL BE RELEASED FOR BUILDING, ESPECIALLY IF FURTHER RECLAMATION IS CARRIED OUT ON BOTH SIDES OF THE RUNWAY,
+SECONDLY,+ HE SAID, IT WILL FREE KOWLOON FROM THE PRESENT RESTRICTIONS ON BUILDING HEIGHTS, FROM THE REMOVAL OF WHICH GOVERNMENT CAN RECEIVE SUBSTANTIAL PAYMENTS OF PREMIA.+
MR. CHEUNG FURTHER POINTED OUT THAT THE TWO SOURCES OF CAPITAL REVENUE TO BE DERIVED FROM MOVING THE AIRPORT WILL BE MORE THAN THAT REQUIRED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND FURBISHING OF THE NEW ONE.
+AND THE OPTIMUM DATE FOR STARTING THE ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION MAY
BE 1982, WHEN THE MTR IS FINISHED, MR. CHEUNG SAID.
HE ADDED THAT THE RECENT CHANGES AND DEVELOPMENTS IN CHINA SEEM TO HIM TO WARRANT AN EARLIER DECISION AND AN EARLIER DATE OF COMPLETION THAN CONTEMPLATED.
/DR. CHEUNG.............