TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1985
PREVIOUSLY THE SESSIONS WERE HELD ALTERNATIVELY IN THE DISTRICT BOARD SECRETARIAT, THE HANG HAU RURAL COMMITTEE AND THE RENNIE'S MILL SERVICE CENTRE.
MR HO SAID THE DIFFERENT VENUES AND DATES COULD BE CONFUSING TO RESIDENTS.
RESIDENTS WHO WANT TO ATTEND ANY SESSIONS SHOULD MAKE AN APPOINTMENT BY TELEPHONING MR ROBERT LAI AT 3-2813087.
KUK HELPS NEW TOWN GROWTH
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NEW TOWNS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES HAD DEVELOPED WITHOUT SERIOUS CONFLICT, THANKS TO THE EFFORTS OF THE HEUNG YEE KUK AND RURAL COMMITTEES, THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, MR DAVID AKERS-JONES, SAID THIS (TUESDAY) EVENING.
ADDRESSING A DINNER RECEPTION GIVEN BY THE KUK IN HIS HONOUR, MR AKERS-JONES SAID HE HAD KNOWN THE KUK FOR 25 YEARS, MORE THAN ONE QUARTER OF THE WHOLE LIFE OF THE NEW TERRITORIES AND NEARLY HALF THE LIFE OF THE KUK.
IN THE 25 YEARS, MR AKERS-JONES SAID,
MR AKERS-JONES SAID, THE NT HAD GONE THROUGH GREAT CHANGE FROM A RURAL AND AGRICULTURAL AREA TO A PLACE OF MANY GREAT NEW TOWNS.
+AND THIS HAS BEEN ACHIEVED WITHOUT SERIOUS CONFLICT AS A RESULT OF THE WAY HEUNG YEE KUK AND RURAL COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVES HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SIT DOWN AND WORK TOGETHER WITH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ON THE POLICIES AND PLANS FOR THE AREA.
+OF COURSE THERE HAVE BEEN MOMENTS OF HARD BARGAINING BUT THE RESULTS ARE THERE FOR ALL TO SEE. THEY NEVER FAIL TO AMAZE OUR MANY VISITORS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES FACED WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS, + HE SAID.
DEVELOPMENT HAD NOT STOPPED, MR AKERS-JONES SAID, AND BY THE END OF THIS CENTURY MOST OF THE FLAT LANDS OF THE NT WOULD HAVE BEEN URBANISED.
+WE HAVE A CONTINUING RESPONSIBILITY TO SEE THAT THIS IS ACHIEVED IN HARMONY AND THAT THE RESULTS ARE HARMONIOUS, HE SAID.
MR AKERS-JONES POINTED OUT THAT THE SINO-BRITISH AGREEMENT WOULD PROVIDE FOR THE RENEWAL OF THE NT LAND LEASES FOR A FURTHER 50 YEARS AFTER 1997, AND THE SPECIAL POSITION OF RURAL LAND HOLDINGS HAD BEEN RECOGNISED.
+WE CAN GO ON BUILDING IN CONFIDENCE AND INVESTORS AND PURCHASERS OF PROPERTY IN THE NEW TERRITORIES WILL KNOW THAT THEIR INVESTMENTS ARE PROTECTED AND SECURE, HE ADDED.
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