WEDNESDAY, JUNE 30, 1982
9.
LAND RESUMPTION EXPLAINED
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PRIOR TO THE ENACTMENT OF THE ROAD (WORKS, USE AND COMPENSATION) ORDINANCE, THE PROCESS OF RESUMING LAND FOR ROAD CONSTRUCTION COULD BE CARRIED ON SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT TOWARDS THE STAGE OF CALLING FOR TENDERS.
THIS WAS STATED BY THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS, THE HON N.K. CHAN, IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON CHARLES YEUNG IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
HE SAID THAT THE EXTENT OF THE LAND REQUIRED HAVING BEEN ASCERTAINED, IT REMAINED ONLY FOR THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL TO BE SATISFIED THAT THE LAND WAS NEEDED FOR A PUBLIC PURPOSE BEFORE THE NECESSARY RESUMPTION ORDERS COULD BE MADE.
HE ADDED THAT IT WAS NORMAL HOWEVER FOR THE SCHEME TO HAVE BEEN AUTHORISED UNDER THE STREETS (ALTERATION) ORDINANCE BEFORE RESUMPTION WAS FORMALLY AUTHORISED.
+UNDER THE NEW ORDINANCE, IN ADDITION TO THE LONGER PERIOD REQUIRED FOR THE GAZETTING OF THE SCHEME, THE GOVERNOR- IN-COUNCIL MAY REFER THE PLAN AND THE SCHEME AND OBJECTIONS TO THE TOWN PLANNING BOARD, WHICH IS REQUIRED TO EXHIBIT THE PLAN AND THE SCHEME AS IT WERE A DRAFT TOWN PLAN, MR CHAN SAID.
+FOLLOWING WHICH THE TOWN PLANNING BOARD WILL CONSIDER THE PLAN AND SCHEME TOGETHER WITH THE ORIGINAL OBJECTIONS AND ANY RECEIVED AS A RESULT OF THE BOARD'S ACTION BEFORE ADVISING THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL. THIS WOULD INEVITABLY CAUSE SOME DELAY.+
HOWEVER, HE STRESSED THAT FOR ROAD CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS PLANNED FOR COMMENCEMENT AT SOME DISTANCE IN THE FUTURE THE ACTUAL DATE OF RESUMPTION SHOULD NOT BE DELAYED AT ALL, SINCE IT SHOULD BE POSSIBLE FOR THE CRITICAL PATH OF ACTIVITIES LEADING UP TO THE COMMENCEMENT OF WORKS TO BE ADJUSTED TO ALLOW SUFFICIENT TIME FOR THE NEW PROCEDURES TO BE MET WITHOUT DELAYING EITHER THE PROJECT OR THE ACQUISITION OF THE NECESSARY LAND.
+ IT IS ONLY IN THE CASE OF CURRENT ROAD CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS FOR WHICH, AT THE TIME OF ENACTMENT OF THE NEW LAW, THE RESUMPTION PROCESS WAS ALREADY WELL ADVANCED BUT NOT COMPLETED, THAT THERE WILL INEVITABLY BE SOME DELAY DUE TO THE NEED TO FOLLOW THE NEW PROCEDURES,+ MR CHAN SAID.
IN RESPECT OF THE NT CIRCULAR ROAD SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED BY MR YEUNG, MR CHAN SAID, ALL LAND RESUMPTION PROCEDURES HAD BEEN COMPLETED OR WERE IN HAND FOR THE LENGTH OF ROAD FROM TAI PO TO FANLING AND FOR THE FANLING BYPASS.
+ACTION WILL HAVE TO BE TAKEN UNDER THE NEW ORDINANCE WITH RESPECT TO THE LENGTH OF ROAD FROM FANLING TO AU TAU AND PREPARATIONS FOR GAZETTING ARE WELL IN HAND, HE ADDED.
+PROV ID ING THERE ARE NO MAJOR OBJECTIONS TO THE PROJECT AND PROVIDING THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL DOES NOT SEE THE NEED TO REFER THE SCHEME TO THE TOWN PLANNING BOARD I DO NOT ANTICIPATE ANY SIGNIFICANT DELAY IN THE LAND RESUMPTION PROGRAMME DUE TO THE CHANGE IN ORDINANCES.+