WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 1994
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LEGISLATORS ENDORSE NT LAND (EXEMPTION BILL
то
LAND OR
A BILL THAT GIVES WOMEN EQUAL SUCCESSION RIGHTS PROPERTY IN THE NEW TERRITORIES IN THE ABSENCE OF A WILL WAS PASSED WITH AMENDMENTS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TONIGHT (WEDNESDAY).
LAND
SPEAKING DURING THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE NEW TERRITORIES (EXEMPTION) BILL, THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR MICHAEL SUEN, REITERATED THAT THE ADMINISTRATION HAD NO INTENTION OF CHANGING CUSTOMARY RIGHTS CURRENTLY ENJOYED BY INDIGENOUS VILLAGERS.
OTHER
THE
THE RATES EXEMPTION FOR VILLAGE HOUSES OCCUPIED BY INDIGENOUS VILLAGERS AND THEIR IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBERS IS PROVIDED FOR IN RATING ORDINANCE.
INDIGENOUS LEASE (EXTENSION)
THE RENT CONCESSION FOR RURAL HOLDINGS HELD BY
.1 VILLAGERS IS PROVIDED FOR IN THE NEW TERRITORIES ORDINANCE.
"THE ADMINISTRATION HAS NO PLAN то AMEND THE RELEVANT THESE ORDINANCES TO CHANGE THE STATUS QUO, MR SUEN
PROVISIONS IN SAID.
HE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT OTHER CUSTOMARY RIGHTS WHICH WERE PART OF THE GOVERNMENT'S ESTABLISHED POLICIES WOULD LIKEWISE REMAIN UNAFFECTED.
HE SAID: "FOR EXAMPLE, INDIGENOUS VILLAGERS AND LOCALLY BASED FISHERMEN WOULD CONTINUE TO BE ALLOWED TO BE BURIED IN THE NEW TERRITORIES WITHIN CERTAIN APPROVED AREAS OUTSIDE GAZETTED CEMETERIES.
11
AS REGARDS THE SMALL HOUSE POLICY, MR SUEN SAID HE APPRECIATED THAT IT WAS AN ISSUE OF GREAT CONCERN TO THE NEW TERRITORIES INDIGENOUS VILLAGERS AND THERE WERE DIFFERENT DIMENSIONS - TO THE POLICY, WITH IMPLICATIONS FOR BOTH LAND AND HOUSING.
BE
"IN THIS REGARD, WE NEED TO EXERCISE CAUTION SO AS NOT TO PRECIPITATED INTO ACTION AGAINST THAT POLICY SIMPLY BY THE PROPOSED EXTENSION OF THE UNITED NATION'S CONVENTION ON THE ELIMINATION OF ALL FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN (CEDAW) INTO HONG KONG.
"THE ADMINISTRATION WILL NEED TO GIVE A VERY THOROUGH AND URGENT EXAMINATION OF THIS COMPLEX POLICY ISSUE SO AS TO FIND A WAY OF DEALING WITH THIS MATTER WHICH WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE TO ALL PARTIES CONCERNED AND WITHOUT COMPROMISING THE PRINCIPLE OF GENDER EQUALITY.
"WITH THIS IN MIND, WE HAVE ALREADY INDICATED THAT WE INTEND TO SEEK THE AGREEMENT OF OUR SOVEREIGN POWERS TO RESERVE UNDER CEDAW THE RIGHT TO MAINTAIN THE STATUS QUO FOR THE TIME BEING, HE SAID.
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EARLIER, MR BUEN EXPLAINED THAT THE BILL WAS FIRST INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL LAST NOVEMBER MAINLY TO ADDRESS THE VERY STRONG PUBLIC CONCERNS EXPRESSED PARTICULARLY BY NON-INDIGENOUS OWNERS OF LAND AND PROPERTY IN THE NEW TERRITORIES ABOUT THE EFFECT OF THE APPLICATION OF THE NEW TERRITORIES ORDINANCE ON SUCCESSION TO THEIR LAND OR PROPERTY.
/HOWEVER, IN