FRIDAY, JULY 1,
1988
12
LAND REHABILITATION PROGRAMME GETS LOCAL SUPPORT
THE OWNERS OF THREE LOTS OF AGRICULTURAL LAND IN CHEUNG
PO, YUEN LONG TODAY (FRIDAY) MADE AVAILABLE THEIR LAND ON RENT TO THE VEGETABLE MARKETING ORGANISATION IN SUPPORT OF A GOVERNMENT PILOT PROJECT TO BRING FALLOW FARM LAND IN THE NEW TERRITORIES BACK TO CULTIVATION.
APART FROM THE FIVE OWNERS OF THE THREE LOTS 15 OWNERS OF 25 LOTS HAVE REGISTERED WITH THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT OF THEIR FIRM INTENTION TO LET THEIR LAND TO THE VMO AND MANY MORE LAND OWNERS IN CHEUNG PO WHO HAVE EXPRESSED AN INTEREST IN JOINING THE PROJECT TO IMPLEMENT THE AGRICULTURAL PRIORITY AREA CONCEPT.
IN CHEUNG PO, 12 OUT OF 52 HECTARES OF AGRICULTURAL LAND ARE LYING FALLOW. IN VIEW OF ITS CONVENIENT ACCESS AND EXISTING BASIC FACILITIES, THE AREA HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS ONE OF THE TWO AGRICULTURAL PRIORITY AREAS WITH THE GREATEST POTENTIAL, IN WHICH TO CARRY OUT THE LAND REHABILITATION PROGRAMME.
THE OTHER AREA IS HOK TAU IN FANLING.
AT A CEREMONY HELD AT THE PAT HEUNG VEGETABLE MARKETING CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY OFFICE THIS MORNING, THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, DR LAWRENCE LEE, SIGNED THE TENANCY AGREEMENTS WITH THE LAND OWNERS CONCERNED.
THEY WERE ALSO PRESENTED WITH CHEQUES FOR FIVE YEARS' RENTS IN RESPECT OF THE THREE LOTS MEASURING 5,120 SQUARE METRES IN AREA. THESE LOTS WOULD SUBSEQUENTLY BE SUB-LETTED TO INTERESTED FARMERS.
SPEAKING AT THE TENANCY AGREEMENT SIGNING CEREMONY, DR LEE SAID THAT THE PILOT PROJECT WAS BEING CARRIED OUT WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF ACHIEVING BETTER UTILISATION OF AGRICULTURAL LAND AND IMPROVING THE RURAL ENVIRONMENT.
"THE GOVERNMENT AND THE VEGETABLE MARKETING ORGANISATION ARE POOLING THEIR RESOURCES TOGETHER TO IMPROVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND MARKETING FACILITIES IN THE TWO AREAS AND то PROVIDE PARTICIPATING FARMERS WITH THE NECESSARY TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO ENSURE THAT THE REHABILITATION PROGRAMME IS IMPLEMENTED SMOOTHLY, HE SAID.
"
HOWEVER, DR LEE POINTED OUT, THE SUCCESS OF THE REHABILITATION PROGRAMME DEPENDED VERY MUCH ON THE SUPPORT OF LAND OWNERS IN MAKING THEIR FALLOW LAND AVAILABLE FOR CULTIVATION PURPOSES.
"I AM VERY PLEASED WITH THE INITIAL RESPONSE AND LOOK FORWARD TO RECEIVING SUPPORT FROM OTHER LAND OWNERS IN CHEUNG PO AND SO THAT LAND RESOURCES IN THESE AREAS COULD BE SAID.
HOK TAU
BETTER UTILISED,
+
HE
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