10
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 1980
DEVELOPMENT IN AREAS WITHOUT ADEQUATE SERVICES NOT DESIRABLE
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THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON DEREK JONES SAID IT WOULD NOT BE DESIRABLE TO PERMIT DEVELOPMENT TO GO AHEAD WHERE SERVICES WERE NOT ADEQUATE AND THAT THE BEST DIRECTION OF PUBLIC WORKS EFFORT WAS TO THOSE AREAS WHERE THE GREATEST SUPPLIES OF LAND FOR HOUSING AND OTHER DE 'ELOPMENT CAN BE ACHIEVED.
IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON CHARLES YEUNG IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY, MR JONES SAID THERE WERE CERTAINLY AREAS OF CROWN LAND WHICH COULD BE SUITABLE FOR RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT BUT WHICH COULD NOT BE PUT ON THE MARKET BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF ADEQUATE PUBLIC ROADS AND SERVICES.
ONE EXAMPLE IS POK FU LAM, WHERE THE PRESENT ROAD SYSTEM IS ALREADY HEAVILY OVERLOADED, AND WHERE THE IMPROVEMENTS NEEDED ARE VERY COSTLY.
MR JONES SAID THE PROVISION OF ROADS AND OTHER PUBLIC FACILITIES WAS AN ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENT FOR ANY DEVELOPMENT, BUT THE NECESSARILY FINITE RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR THESE PURPOSES MUST BE DEPLOYED TO THE BEST ADVANTAGE IN TERMS OF MAXIMISING THE DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL MADE AVAILABLE,
+THIS THE GOVERNMENT DOES THROUGH THE PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME, WHERE PRIORITIES ARE VERY CAREFULLY CONSIDERED AND WHERE THE MAXIMUM CONCENTRATION OF RESOURCES IS NOW DIRECTED TO THE NEW TOWNS AND PUBLIC HOUSING,+ HE SAID.
WHEN IT IS DEFINITELY KNOWN THAT WORK IN PROVIDING SERVICES TO ANY PARTICULAR AREA IS GOING AHEAD, FORWARD SELLING OF SITES IS ARRANGED IN ORDER TO SPEED UP THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE LAND, HE ADDED.
ON THE SUBJECT OF TURNING AGRICULTURAL LAND FOR RESIDENTIAL AND OTHER DEVELOPMENT, MR JONES SAID SUCH APPLICATIONS WERE BEING RECEIVED IN THE NEW TERRITORIES DISTRICT OFFICES ALMOST DAILY.
+SOME OF THEM HAVE TO BE REJECTED FOR A LARGE NUMBER OF REASONS, WHICH MAY INCLUDE LACK OF, OR INADEQUACY OF, SERVICES, THE EFFECT ON ADJOINING PROPERTY OR SIMPLY THAT THEY ARE IN THE WRONG PLACE FOR THE TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT APPLIED FOR, HE SAID.