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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1980
THE FIRST ALTERNATIVE, EXPLAINED THE SPOKESMAN, WOULD INVOLVE A DIRECT NON-IN SITU LAND EXCHANGE WHICH, EXCEPT IN VERY EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES IS NOT ALLOWED UNDER EXISTING POLICY, BECAUSE OF THE SHORTAGE OF LAND FOR SUCH PURPOSES.
THE FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF THIS ARRANGEMENT IN THE FORM OF A FREE GRANT OF AN ALTERNATIVE SITE TO THE CLUB WOULD BE IN THE ORDER OF $500 MILLION AT CURRENT LAND VALUES, MORE THAN IF THE BUILDING WAS DECLARED A MONUMENT AND COMPENSATION PAID.
THE SECOND ALTERNATIVE WOULD ALSO INVOLVE A COST TO THE PUBLIC PURSE OF AROUND $500 MILLION, IN THE FORM OF COMPENSATION PAYABLE TO THE CLUB.
+AGAIN, THIS CAN HARDLY BE JUSTIFIED, SAID THE SPOKESMAN.
AS TO THE THIRD ALTERNATIVE. THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT THE PRINCIPLE OF TRANSFERRING BUILDING RIGHTS WAS NOT ACCEPTABLE AS IT WOULD RESULT IN A BUILDING ON A SEPARATE SITE +THAT WOULD BE SUBSTANTIALLY IN EXCESS OF THE PERMISSIBLE VOLUME+.
*THE BUILDING AUTHORITY HAS NEVER PREVIOUSLY AGREED TO THE TRANSFER OF PLOT RATIO FROM ONE SITE TO ANOTHER AND TO DO SO IN THIS CASE WOULD CREATE A MOST DANGEROUS PRECEDENT WHICH IF GIVEN WIDER APPLICATION WOULD UNDERMINE THE WHOLE CONCEPT OF BUILDING CONTROL AND STANDARDS, SAID THE SPOKESMAN.
FOR THESE REASONS, HE SAID, THE GOVERNMENT FELT IT WOULD NOT BE IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST TO DECLARE THE HONG KONG CLUB BUILDING A MONUMENT.
PRINCESS ALEXANDRA TO STOP OVER HERE
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HRK PRINCESS ALEXANDRA AND THE HON ANGUS OGILVY WILL BREAK THE IR JOURNEY TO AUSTRALIA AT HONG KONG ON SEPTEMBER 22 FOR FOUR DAYS.
THEY WILL BE STAYING AT FANLING LODGE AS GUESTS OF THE GOVERNOR.
THE VISIT WILL BE PRIVATE.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
PRINCESS ALEXANDRA AND MR OGILVY WILL ARRIVE AT KAI TAK AIRPORT IN AN ANDOVER OF THE QUEEN'S FLIGHT AT 9.40 PM ON SEPTEMBER 22. THEY WILL BE MET BY THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE.
A PHOTOGRAPHIC FACILITY WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE AIRPORT TO COVER THE ARRIVAL OF THE ROYAL COUPLE.
/PHOTOGRAPHERS AND