15.
I would further propose that upon the expiry of the current term of these sub- leases, the sub-lessees would be deemed as the Crown lessees. This would be done under an amendment to clause 5 which I would move later in the event that my proposed amendment to clause 9 has been supported by Members. There would also be a number of other consequential amendments.
Thank you, Mr Chairman.
End/Friday, July 28, 1995
Block Crown Lease: committee stage (to amend Clause 9)
*
Following is the speech by the Secretary for Planning, Environment and Lands, Mr Bowen Leung, in moving to amend Clause 9 of the Block Crown Lease (Cheung Chau) Bill in the Legislative Council today (Friday):
Mr Chairman,
I move that clause 9 be amended as set out under my name in the paper circulated to Members.
Clause 9 is concerned with transactions before the Bill comes into operation.
As I said earlier the Administration considers that private contracts should be respected and that the Bill should not interfere with such contracts or if it must do so, such interference should be kept to the absolute minimum. The Bill should therefore not have any retrospective effect on agreements between Wong Wai Tsak Tong and its sub-leases which have been granted or renewed for any period extending beyond 9 November 1994 and under which agreement the Tong and the sub-lessees have agreed on the amount of rent payable to the Tong after 30 June 1997.
Clause 9(1) therefore proposes that these sub-leases should be excluded from sections 4 and 5 of the Bill.