XN000022-1973-01-17 — Page 16

15

Wednesday, January 17, 1973

SURRENDING PRIVATE STREET LAND TO THE CROWN

New Law In Advanced Stage Of Drafting

The Government may, in future, obtain possession of any land in

the private streets where there is no obligation under the lease for the

owner to surrender the land to the Government.

Disclosing this at the Legislative Council today, the Director of

Public Works, the Hon. J.J. Robson, said legislation giving the Government this

power "is now in an advanced stage of drafting."

He was replying to a question by the Hon. T.K. Ann whether any progress

was being made in vesting private streets in the Crown, now that the Crown

Land Ordinance had been enacted.

The Crown Land Ordinance 1972 and associated Regulations, which

became effective on October 1, 1972, provide for Government taking over private

streets where there is provision in the lease that the lessee shall, when required,

surrender the land needed for this purpose.

Mr. Robson said: "There are about 300 private streets in the Colony

and checking the Lease Conditions of all the lots fronting these streets to

see whether they contain such provision will be a lengthy task."

"First priority," he said, "has therefore been accorded to 16 roads

which are used as traffic thoroughfares so that, wherever the Lease Conditions

permit, early action can be taken to obtain surrender of the land occupied

by the road."

He added it was planned to deal next with roads now so blocked by

hawkers or parked cars that fire appliances could not get access to buildings

and fire hazards had been created.

-

/16