WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 1983
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BILL TO ENABLE KUK TO DISCHARGE DUTIES
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THE HEUNG YEE KUK (AMENDMENT) BILL 1983 WOULD ENABLE THE KUK TO DISCHARGE ITS DUTIES PERTAINING TO THE RESPONSIBILITIES WITH WHICH IT IS ENTRUSTED, AN UNOFFICIAL MEMBER, THE HON BENTON CHEUNG, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
HE WAS SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE MOTION DURING THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE BILL.
+FROM THE PREAMBLE OF THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE ENACTED IN DECEMBER 1959, IT WAS APPARENTLY THOUGHT APPROPRIATE THAT THE HEUNG YEE KUK NEED ONLY TO FUNCTION AS AN ADVISORY BODY AND AS A FORUM WHERE LEADERS OF OPINION IN THE TERRITORIES COULD EXCHANGE VIEWS.
+EVENTS HAVE PROVED THAT THE COMMUNITIES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES HAVE ALSO SEEN FIT TO ENTRUST THE KUK WITH TASKS OTHER THAN THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE HAD PROVIDED FOR, HE SAID.
HENCE AMENDMENTS ARE NEEDED TO CLAUSE 2 TO COMPLETE THE KUK'S LEGAL ENTITY AND TO CLAUSE 3 TO ENABLE IT TO DISCHARGE ITS DUTIES PERTAINING TO THE RESPONSIBILITIES WITH WHICH IT IS ENTRUSTED.
+WHEN THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE WAS ENACTED IN 1959, IT WAS APPARENTLY NOT FORESEEN THAT THE PRIVATELY ACQUIRED OLD BUILDING AT SUNG TAK STREET, NEAR THE OLD RAILWAY STATION AT TAI PO MARKET, HAD WELL SERVED ITS PURPOSES FOR OVER 30 YEARS.
+THE BUILDING USED TO HOUSE, NOT ONLY THE HEUNG YEE KUK, BUT ALSO THE TAI PO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND A PRIMARY SCHOOL, THE SUNG TAK SCHOOL,+ HE SAID.
IN 1979, MR CHEUNG REPRESENTED THE KUK AND ENTERED INTO A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH ITS CO-OWNER TO DEVELOP THE SITE.
WHEN REDEVELOPED INTO A SIX-STOREY COMMERCIAL/RESIDENTIAL BUILDING, THE UNITS THEREIN COULD BE SOLD BY THE RESPECTIVE PARTIES.
+IT WAS ALWAYS THE INTENTION OF THE KUK TO SELL THOSE UNITS IT RIGHTFULLY OWNS AND TO CREDIT THE PROCEEDS REALISED TO THE KUK'S 'EDUCATION PROMOTION FUND', AFTER REPAYING ITS LAWFUL DEBTS, HE SAID.
MR CHEUNG ALSO TOUCHED ON THE HISTORY OF THE KUK AND ITS AMBITIOUS SECONDARY SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES.
HE PAID TRIBUTE TO THE +FAR-SIGHTED AND RESOURCEFUL+ FOUNDER MEMBERS OF THE KUK AND TO THE PHILANTHROP IST, MR CHU YAN-KIT OF TAI PO WHO DONATED SUBSTANTIAL TRACKS OF AGRICULTURAL LAND IN FANLING/SHEUNG SHUI TO THE KUK FOR THE PROMOTION OF EDUCATION.
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