WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 1988
1
ALLOWANCES I
IN NT LEASES (EXTENSION) BILL URGED
THE GOVERNMENT. IN PASSING THE NEW TERRITORIES LEASES (EXTENSION) BILL 1987, SHOULD MAKE RENT CONCESSION TO VOLUNTARY, SPORTS OR NON-PROFIT MAKING ORGANISATIONS IN ORDER THAT THEY CAN
RECREATIONAL AREAS CONTINUE TO OPERATE THE MUCH-NEEDED
IN THE NEW TERRITORIES AND OUTLYING ISLANDS WITHOUT THE FEAR OF HAVING CONTEND WITH RISING COSTS, LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOR, THE HON F.K. URGED TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
TO
HU,
WAS
MR HU, CONVENOR OF A LEGCO AD HOC GROUP STUDYING THE BILL, SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE BILL IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
III
ANNEX THE AIM OF THIS BILL IS TO IMPLEMENT PARAGRAPH 2 OF
LEASES IN OF THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT DECLARATION, SO THAT OVER 30,000 THE NEW TERRITORIES AND NEW KOWLOON MAY BE AUTOMATICALLY EXTENDED A PERIOD EXPIRING NOT LATER THAN JUNE
30, 2047 WITHOUT PAYMENT ADDITIONAL PREMIUM.
THREE PER INSTEAD AN ANNUAL RENT EQUIVALENT TO CURRENT RATEABLE VALUE OF THE PROPERTY WILL BE CHARGED.
FOR
OF
CENT OF
THE
NOTED THAT THE WHILE SUPPORTING THE BILL, MR HU NEVERTHELESS
40 RECREATIONAL BILL PROVIDED NO RENT CONCESSION IN REGARD TO SOME AREAS CURRENTLY HELD BY CLUBS AND ASSOCIATIONS SUCH AS THE BOY ASSOCIATION, Y.M.C.A, AND THE OUTWARD BOUND SCHOOL.
SCOUTS
TO PAY THE GOVERNMENT A
AT PRESENT, THESE BODIES ONLY HAVE NOMINAL FEE AS RENT FOR THE USE OF THE LAND.
"I AM CONCERNED THAT IF A THREE PER CENT TAX WAS TO BE CHARGED
THE ACCORDING TO THE RATEABLE VALUE, MANY OF
ORGANISATIONS INVOLVED MAY NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO PAY.
"OR THEY MAY HAVE TO SHIFT THE BURDEN TO THEIR USERS, THE GENERAL PUBLIC, BY RAISING THE LEVEL OF FEES.
THAT IS
"IN BOTH CASES,
WILL IT IS THE GENERAL PUBLIC WHO WAY OR ANOTHER, "MR HU SAID.
SUFFER
ONE
OF CONCERN RAISED THE DEFINITION
HE WENT ON TO POINT OUT THAT A SECOND AREA IN THE COURSE OF THE AD HOC GROUP'S DELIBERATIONS WAS OF "ESTABLISHED VILLAGE".
UNDER THE BILL, RENTS FOR
WILL VILLAGES
CERTAIN LAND HELD BY
FROM PRE-1898
REMAIN UNCHANGED AFTER INVOLVED ARE EXTENDED. THESE PRE-1898 VILLAGES, TOTALLING TODAY, ARE DEFINED ACCORDING TO A 1905 SURVEY.
SOME AD HOC GROUP MEMBERS WERE
DESCENDANTS THE LEASES AROUND 600
CONCERNED THAT SOME
MIGHT HAVE BEEN MISSED OUT FROM THE SURVEY, AND THE BE UNFAIR TO THE VILLAGERS.
VILLAGES BILL WOULD THEN
/THEY WANTED .............