WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1983
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MR JEAFFRESON SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS INVOLVED IN A WIDE RANGE OF ACTIVITIES AIMED AT EDUCATING THIS AGE GROUP ABOUT THE SERIOUSNESS OF BECOMING INVOLVED IN CRIME IN GENERAL. AND IN SHOP LIFTING IN PARTICULAR. THE POLICE, EDUCATION AND SOICAL WELFARE DEPARTMENTS, TOGETHER WITH VOLUNTARY AGENCIES, ARE ALL CONCERNED IN THIS EFFORT.
DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE YOUNG, AND PUBLICITY, ALSO HELPED IN THE FIGHT AGAINST THIS TYPE OF CRIME. AS STATISTICS INDICATE THAT IT IS MORE PREVALENT DURING DECEMBER, AND THE EARLY PART OF EACH YEAR, PARTICULAR EFFORTS ARE BEING MADE TO GET THE MESSAGE ACROSS.
BILL PROVIDES FOR PAYMENT OF ADVISERS FEES
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THE GOVERNMENT RECOGNISES THE GENERAL PRINCIPLE THAT NO ONE SHOULD SUFFER A FINANCIAL LOSS AS A RESULT OF RESUMPTION OF PROPERTY.
THIS WAS STATED TODAY IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL BY THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS, MR NICKY CHAN, WHEN MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE CROWN LANDS RESUMPTION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1983.
MR CHAN SAID, THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THE BILL, WAS TO PROVIDE FOR THE FEES OF PROFESSIONAL ADVISERS ENGAGED BY OWNERS WHOSE LAND IS THE SUBJECT OF RESUMPTION UNDER THE CROWN LANDS ORDINANCE TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT IN COMPENSATION CLAIMS AND PAYMENTS.
HE SAID ONE SECTION OF THE ORDINANCE WAS ALSO AMENDED TO ENABLE ALL OWNERS OR OCCUPIERS OF PROPERTY WHICH WAS THE SUBJECT OF RESUMPTION TO CLAIM RELOCATION EXPENSES REASONABLY INCURRED IN CONNECTION WITH THE RESUMPTION.
+AT PRESENT, CLAIMS CAN ONLY BE SUBMITTED WHEN BUSINESSES ARE AFFECTED,+ HE SAID.
+THIS WILL ENABLE EXISTING ARRANGEMENTS UNDER WHICH EX-GRATIA 'SETTING-UP' ALLOWANCES ARE PAID TO BE DISPENSED WITH.+
HE SAID THE AMENDMENTS BROUGHT THE ORDINANCE INTO LINE WITH OTHER LEGISLATION WHICH PROVIDED FOR THE RESUMPTION OF LAND.
AS A RESULT OF ANOTHER AMENDMENT INTRODUCING A REFERENCE TO +A WILLING SELLER+ IN RELATION TO VALUATIONS, THE ORDINANCE WOULD CORRESPOND WITH THE UNITED KINGDOM'S LAND COMPENSATION ACT 1961. THIS, MR CHAN SAID, WOULD GIVE GREATER CERTAINTY TO THE LAW AND REMOVE ANY DIFFICULTY IN APPLYING DECIDED CASES TO THE ORDINANCE.
MR CHAN SAID AN ADDITION TO THE ORDINANCE WOULD ENABLE PROVISIONAL PAYMENTS OF COMPENSATION TO BE MADE WHILE CLAIMS WERE BEING DETERMINED BY THE LANDS TRIBUNAL, AND THERE WOULD BE AN AMENDMENT GIVING STATUTORY BASIS TO THE LONG-STANDING PRACTICE OF PAYING INTEREST WHERE CLAIMS WERE SETTLED BY AGREEMENT.
DEBATE ON THE MOTION WAS ADJOURNED TO JANUARY 11.
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