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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1987
HOWEVER, WITH THE RAPID DEVELOPMENT IN THE NEW TERRITORIES IN RECENT YEARS, THE LIVING STANDARD OF NT VILLAGERS HAD BEEN RAISED CONSIDERABLY AND THE KUK SAW A NEED TO IMPROVE THE LIVING ENVIRONMENT OF NEW TERRITORIES RESIDENTS. IT THEREFORE PROPOSED TO THE GOVERNMENT TO INCREASE THE PERMITTED HEIGHT OF SMALL HOUSES FROM 25 FEET TO 27 FEET IN ORDER TO GIVŔ RESIDENTS BETTER VENTILATION AND A BETTER LIVING ENVIRONMENT.
THE ADMINISTRATION FOUND THE PROPOSAL REASONABLE AND FELT THAT THERE WAS A NEED TO AMEND THE REGULATION CONCERNING EXEMPTIONS FROM PROVISIONS OF THE EX191TNG BUILDINGS ORDINANCE. THE GOVERNMENT ALSO INTENDED TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS TO PROVISIONS GOVERNING THE STRUCTURE OF SUCH BUILDINGS AND TECHNICALITIES OF THE FOUNDATION WORKS.
HOWEVER, WHEN THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE (APPLICATION TO THE NEW TERRITORIES) BILL 1986 WAS GAZETTED, THE KUK FOUND A LARGE DISCREPANCY BETWEEN THE SPIRIT OF THE BILL AND THE ORIGINAL INTENTION. THIS WAS BECAUSE THE BILL MADE A CLEAR DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS AND NON-INDIGENOUS RESIDENTS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR LAU NOTED.
NON-INDIGENOUS RESIDENTS HAD TO SUBMIT CONSTRUCTION PLANS WHEN THEY REBUILT THEIR HOUSES. MOREOVER, IN SUCH CASES, THE RECONSTRUCTION AREA HAD TO BE REDUCED CONSIDERABLY AND EVEN BE HOUSES WHICH COULD NOT BE REBUILT WHEN TOPOGRAPHIC PREVENTED THEM FROM MEETING LEGAL REQUIREMENTS, HE ADDED.
THERE MIGHT FACTORS
MR LAU SAID THE KUK CONSIDERED THAT SUCH ARRANGEMENTS NEITHER FAIR NOR REASONABLE TO NON-INDIGENOUS PROPERTY OWNERS.
WERE
ABOUT
HE ALSO SAID EARNEST EXAMINATION OF THE CASE AND DISCUSSIONS BY THE LEGCO AD HOC GROUP AND THE DEPARTMENTS CONCERNED BROUGHT APPROPRIATE AMENDMENTS TO THE RELEVANT PROVISIONS OF THE BILL.
EQUAL DEAL FOR INDIGENOUS AND NON-INDIGENOUS VILLAGERS
THE HON CHENG HON-KWAN TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THE GOVERNMENT HAD AGREED THAT THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN INDIGENOUS AND NON-INDIGENOUS VILLAGERS FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE (APPLICATION TO THE NEW TERRITORIES) BILL 1986 SHOULD BE REMOVED.
MR CHENG, CONVENOR OF THE LEGCO AD HOC GROUP STUDYING THE BILL, SAID ORIGINALLY CLAUSE 5(A) OF THE BILL, WHICH PROPOSED ΤΟ RESTRICT EXEMPTION TO ONLY BUILDINGS BUILT BY INDIGENOUS VILLAGERS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES, HAD RAISED A NUMBER OF PRACTICAL PROBLEMS.
/AFTER THOROUGH