WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 24, 1979
TOUGHER LAWS INTRODUCED IN FIGHT
AGAINST SQUATTER HUT RACKETEERS
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THE SECRETARY FOR HOUSING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) MOVED THE SECOND READING OF A BILL GIVING THE HOUSING AUTHORITY FAR MORE POWER AGAINST RACKETEERS WHO DEAL IN ILLEGAL HUTS FOR SQUATTERS, AND OTHER PEOPLE WHO WRONGLY USE LAND LEASED TO THEM FOR AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES.
THE HON. A.J. SCOTT SAID OF THE CROWN LAND (AMENDMENT) BILL 1979 +IN THE CONTROL OF UNLAWFUL OCCUPATION OF UNLEASED LAND. THE EXISTING LEGISLATION HAS NOT PROVED A SUFFICIENT DETERRENT TO INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS ENGAGING IN THE UNAUTHORISED CONSTRUCTION AND SALE OF STRUCTURES ON CROWN LAND.+
UNDER THE POWERS IN THE AMENDING BILL, HE SAID, SQUATTER CONTROL STAFF WOULD BE ABLE TO DEMOLISH STRUCTURES BEFORE THEY WERE SOLD AND OCCUPIED, AND PROSECUTE THE PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE FOR BUILDING SUCH STRUCTURÉS.
ADDITIONALLY, THE WIDER POWERS OF ENTRY AND INSPECTION WOULD FACILITATE SURVEY WORK FOR THE CLEARANCE OF AREAS BEFORE DEVELOPMENT, AND ENSURE THAT ACCURATE INFORMATION WAS OBTAINED.
+THE PENALTIES FOR PROVIDING FALSE INFORMATION WILL DETER THOSE WHO ATTEMPT TO GAIN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE IN RESPECT OF HOUSING OR THE PAYMENT OF COMPENSATION AND EX-GRATIA ALLOWANCES,+ SAID MR. SCOTT.
ON THE REASONS BEHIND THE INTRODUCTION OF TOUGHER CONTROLS, MR. SCOTT SAID THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW TOWNS HAD INCREASED THE TEMPTATION FOR OCCUPIERS OF LEASED LAND TO CONVERT AGRICULTURAL PREMISES FOR VARIOUS UNAUTHORISED USES, SUCH AS INDUSTRIAL PURPOSES.
+IN ORDER TO PREVENT REPETITION OF THE WIDESPREAD CONVERSIONS PREVIOUSLY EXPERIENCED IN NEW KOWLOON, A SUMMARY REMEDY IS PROPOSED IN THE BILL WHICH WILL ENABLE THE AUTHORITY TO DEMAND THAT THE LESSEE DISCONTINUE THE WRONGFUL USE AND RESTORE THE STRUCTURE TO ITS ORIGINAL USE- FAILING WHICH, THE AUTHORITY MAY DO THE RESTORATION FOR HIM OR MAY DEMOLISH THE STRUCTURE, SAID MR. SCOTT.
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