Friday, February 9, 1973
NEW LAND EXCHANGE SCHEME FOR N.T. ANNOUNCED
A new land exchange scheme has been approved to allow for private
development in certain areas in the New Territories not covered by outline
zoning plans.
This was announced today by the District Commissioner, N.T.,
Mr. Denis Bray, in an address to the Heung Yee Kuk during his annual New
Year call on them.
The new schame originates from proposals put forward by the
Heung Yee Kuk to relieve frustrations felt by owners of land in areas
planned for eventual development but where development could not yet be
accommodated.
In these areas, said Mr. Bray, land owners would not be able
to pay a development premium and build precisely on land they now own.
This method of development had been tried and was slow.
It also meant chat the benefit to be derived from new town
development would depend heavily on whether a man's land was planned for
a park or a tenement building.
Compensation, he added, had to be averaged over a large area.
Mr. Bray emphasized that compensation paid for land required
for public housing or town centres "should not depend on the zoning of
the particular land concerned."
"This is logical and fair but it does mean that we cannot agree
that owners of agricultural land in strategic positions should be allowed
to develop these areas on payment of a premium."
/Under the
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