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FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 1983
BILL TO EMPOWER GOVERNMENT TO ACQUIRE LAND
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A BILL PUBLISHED IN TODAY'S GAZETTE PROPOSES TO EMPOWER THE GOVERNMENT TO ACQUIRE LAND FOR PUBLIC PURPOSES WHERE THIS LAND IS OR MAY BE HELD UNDER A POSSESSORY TITLE BY VIRTUE OF THE LIMITATION ORDINANCE.
THE BILL, KNOWN AS THE LAND ACQUISITION (POSSESSORY TITLE) BILL 1983, ENABLES THE DIRECTOR OF LANDS TO MAKE AN ACQUISITION ORDER IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH LAND WHENEVER THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL DECIDES THAT THE LAND IS TO BE ACQUIRED OR RESUMED FOR A PUBLIC PURPOSE.
IT ALSO PROVIDES FOR THE SUBMISSIONS OF CLAIMS AND RIGHTS OF COMPENSATION AND EXTENDS THE JURISDICTION OF THE LANDS TRIBUNAL TO DETERMINE THE COMPENSATION PAYABLE UNDER THE BILL.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE LANDS DEPARTMENT SAID THAT UNDER THE LIMITATION ORDINANCE NO ACTION FOR THE RECOVERY OF LAND MIGHT BE BROUGHT BY THE CROWN AFTER THE UNLEASED LAND HAD BEEN OCCUPIED CONTINUOUSLY FOR 60 YEARS.
+THERE WILL BE FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS ARISING OUT OF THE PAYMENT FROM THE GENERAL REVENUE OF COMPENSATION AND OTHER SUMS UNDER THE BILL, BUT IT IS NOT POSSIBLE AT THIS STAGE TO ESTIMATE THE AMOUNT,+ HE SAID.
BUT HE ADDED THAT THE NUMBER OF CASES IN WHICH SUCH PAYMENTS WOULD BE MADE WAS NOT EXPECTED TO BE LARGE.
THE BILL WOULD NOT RESULT IN ANY ADDITIONAL PUBLIC SERVICE STAFFING REQUIREMENTS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE BILL IS SCHEDULED TO BE READ A FIRST AND SECOND TIME IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON JUNE 29. DEBATE WILL RESUME IN THE COUNCIL ON JULY 13 WHEN THE BILL IS EXPECTED TO BE MOVED THROUGH THE COMMITTEE STAGE AND FINAL READING.
MURRAY
PUBLIC COMMENTS IN THE BILL MAY BE SENT TO UMELCO SWIRE HOUSE, 12/F, CHATER ROAD, HONG KONG) OR THE DIRECTOR OF LANDS BUILDING, 2/F, GARDEN ROAD, HONG KONG).
MORE TRAINING FACILITIES AT CORRECTIONAL SERVICES
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TRAINING FACILITIES FOR STAFF OF THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT HAVE BEEN CONSIDERABLY EXPANDED FOLLOWING THE RECENT COMPLETION OF THE EXTENSION TO THE DEPARTMENT'S STAFF TRAINING
INSTITUTE IN STANLEY.
THE $21-MILLION EXTENSION PROJECT, WHICH TOOK 18 MONTHS TO COMPLETE, WAS OFFICIALLY OPENED TODAY (FRIDAY) BY THE SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE, MR MARTIN ROWLANDS.
AR THE