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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1980
PRISONS DEPT'S REHABILITATION PROGRAMME IMPRESSES UK MINISTER
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THE BRITISH MINISTER OF STATE FOR THE HOME OFFICE, MR TIMOTHY RAISON, TODAY (FRIDAY) VISITED TWO DIFFERENT PENAL INSTITUTIONS AND WAS IMPRESSED BY THE PRISONS DEPARTMENT'S DRUG ADDICTION TREATMENT AND DETENTION CENTRE PROGRAMMES.
ACCOMPANIED BY THE ACTING COMMISSIONER OF PRISONS, MR TOM ECOB, MR RAISON FIRST WENT BY HELICOPTER TO THE HEI LING CHAU DRUG ADDICTION TREATMENT CENTRE WHERE HE WAS BRIEFED BY THE SUPERINTENDENT-IN- CHARGE, MR HIRO MANSUKHANI, ON THE COMPREHENSIVE TREATMENT PROGRAMME PROVIDED FOR CONVICTED DRUG ADDICTS.
HE INSPECTED THE CENTRE'S VARIOUS FACILITIES WHICH INCLUDE THE HOSPITAL, DORMITORIES FOR INMATES, THE CARPENTRY, RATTANWARE AND TAILORING WORKSHOPS, THE LAUNDRY, THE KITCHEN AS WELL AS A PIG REARING UNIT.
MR RAISON THEN WENT TO SHA TSUI DETENTION CENTRE ON LANTAO, ALSO BY HELICOPTER, WHERE HE WAS MET ON ARRIVAL BY MR VICTOR NILSSON, THE SUPERINTENDENT-IN-CHARGE. HE WATCHED YOUNG INMATES UNDERGOING THE 'SHORT SHARP SHOCK' TRAINING PROGRAMME.
INCREASES IN COMPENSATION FOR RESUMED LAND IN NEW TERRITORIES
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THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (FRIDAY) INCREASES IN ITS COMPENSATION RATES FOR LAND RESUMED IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
FROM OCTOBER 1, OWNERS OF AGRICULTURAL LAND RESUMED WITHIN NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT AREAS WILL BE COMPENSATED AT THE NEW FULL RATE OF $89 PER SQUARE FOOT INSTEAD OF $63 PER SQUARE FOOT - AN INCREASE OF ABOUT 40 PER CENT.
AT THE SAME TIME, THE EX-GRATIA ALLOWANCE OFFERED TO OWNERS OF RESUMED BUILDING LAND WITHIN NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT AREAS WILL BE AT THE NEW FULL RATE OF $200 PER SQUARE FOOT INSTEAD OF $135 PER SQUARE FOOT - AN INCREASE OF ABOUT 48 PER CENT.
GIVING DETAILS OF THE NEW RATES TODAY, THE ACTING PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT, LAND AGENT OF THE NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, MR TONY HARLAND, SAID THEY HAD BEEN DRAWN UP IN LINE WITH GOVERNMENT'S POLICY OF CONDUCTING HALF-YEARLY REVIEWS OF NEW TERRITORIES COMPENSATION RATES.
THE POLICY WAS ADOPTED ON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE WORKING GROUP ON NEW TERRITORIES URBAN LAND ACQUISITION HEADED BY SIR YUET-KEUNG KAN.
MR HARLAND SAID THE NEW RATES WOULD BE EFFECTIVE UP TO MARCH 31, 1981, WHEN A FURTHER REVIEW WOULD BE CARRIED OUT.
/HE POINTED