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(d) improving ex-gratia allowances and loans for business to be relocated.
The acting Secretary and Planning, Environment and Lands, Mr Canice Mak, said: "the proposals are designed to be as fair as possible and to balance the interests of the community as a whole with those people directly affected by urban renewal projects."
Members were of the view that rehousing in the process of urban renewal was one of the important issues to be dealt with.
At today's meeting the ad hoc working group of the committee to study the Building (Amendment) Bill reported that both the Government and respective professional bodies shared a common concern for building construction and demolition site safety, they agreed that new legislation, administrative guidelines and codes of practice were needed to further strengthen safety control of building works.
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The committee would continue to discuss the respective duty of supervision of concerned professionals, the setting out of a supervision plan and the proposed system under which contractors would be registered as persons.
The committee was also briefed on the assessment of future land supply in the territories in 1994-95 to 2003-04. It was estimated that the supply of land with a higher degree of certainty will amount to a total of 5.071 hectares by 2003-04. In addition, there were about 443 hectares of land, which at present were low on priority in their production, can be produce faster if their development priority was upgraded.
As to the assessment of land requirements and land supply in 1994-95 to 2003- 04, members noted that there was a projected surplus of 12.5 hectares of land for offices and 99.3 hectares of surplus of industrial land by 2006-07. The assessment of residential demand would be prepared separately in due course.
The committee was also informed that a study on the comprehensive assessment of redevelopment potential in the metro-areas of Hong Kong Island. Kowloon, New Kowloon and Tsuen Wan-Kwai Tsing was being carried out and expected to be completed next year.
End/Wednesday, 16 August 1995
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