WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1984
REVIEW OF LAND SITES FOR TEMPORARY USE
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AT THE REQUEST OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON LAND SUPPLY. THE DIRECTOR OF LANDS IS CONDUCTING A REVIEW OF THE TEMPORARY USE OF VARIOUS LAND SITES, THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS, THE HON NICKY CHAN, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
THESE SITES INCLUDE ALL THOSE IN THE MAIN URBAN AREAS WHICH HAVE BEEN EARMARKED FOR GOVERNMENT, INSTITUTION OR COMMUNITY USE BUT FOR WHICH THERE ARE AS YET NO DEFINITE DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS AND PROGRAMMES.
MR CHAN WAS REPLYING TO DR THE HON HENRIETTA IP WHO ASKED WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CONSIDER DOING A REVIEW TO ENSURE MAXIMUM UTILISATION OF SUCH CROWN LAND WHICH WOULD BE LEFT UNDEVELOPED FOR FIVE YEARS OR MORE.
MR CHAN SAID THE REVIEW WOULD IDENTIFY WHICH OF THESE SITES WERE CONSIDERED SUITABLE FOR TEMPORARY USE.
+THE PURPOSE OF THE REVIEW IS TO ENSURE THAT AVAILABLE LAND 1S FULLY USED, HE ADDED.
IN THE PROCESS, THE POSSIBILITY OF RELEASING SITES WHICH ARE UNLIKELY TO BE REQUIRED FOR GOVERNMENT, INSTITUTION OR COMMUNITY USE FOR PERMANENT DEVELOPMENT IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR WILL ALSO BE EXAMINED.+
MR CHAN SAID THE REVIEW WAS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED SHORTLY AND THE FINDINGS WOULD BE PUT TO THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON LAND SUPPLY FOR INITIAL CO.SIDERATION.
+THEREAFTER, DISTRICT BOARDS WILL BE CONSULTED AS INDEED THEY HAVE BEEN IN THE PAST, ABOUT THE USE OF SITES TEMPORARILY AVAILABLE WITHIN THEIR OWN PARTICULAR DISTRICTS, HE SAID.
FIRE DANGER GREATER IN HILLSIDE SQUATTER AREAS
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FIRE RISKS IN HILLSIDE SQUATTER AREAS ARE GREATER THAN THOSE ASSOCIATED WITH SQUATTER HUTS ON THE ROOFTOPS OF BUILDINGS IN URBAN DISTRICTS, SAID THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON DAVID JEAFFRESON, IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
HE WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM DR THE HON HO KAM-FAI, WHO ASKED WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT WAS AWARE OF THE FIRE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH ROOFTOP STRUCTURES AND WHO WANTED TO KNOW WHAT ACTION WAS TAKEN TO REDUCE THESE.
MR JEAFFRESON SAID THAT DURING THE TWO YEARS ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1983, THERE WERE 46 FIRES, OF WHICH ONLY THREE WERE THIRD ALARM OR ABOVE, INVOLVING ROOFTOP SQUATTER HUTS.