XN000022-1973-03-28 — Page 16

-

14

-

Wednesday, March 28, 1973

"The cost of all this has yet to be fully assessed but for the

coming financial year alone it is proposed to seek supplementary provision

of $30 million for acquisition of properties together with $10 million

for clearances, demolitions, etc."

With regard to this year's provision of only $40 million for

urban renewal, Mr. Robson said that this "reflects slower progress on

acquisition of land than was originally foreseen."

This was due almost wholly to the shortage and the difficulty

of recruiting and retaining professional estate staff in the Crown

Lands and Survey Office.

Tempo Of Development

Nevertheless, Mr. Robson said although only two third of the

professional posts were filled, he managed to keep all the New Territories

estate surveyor posts manned and he expressed the hope that their

output could be expanded to keep pace with the increasing tempo of

development in the New Territories.

On the question of the need to place more land on the market

as speedily as possible, Mr. Robson said as far as the urban areas are

concerned, "every endeavour has been made to search out any residential

land that can be sold without resort to clearance."

"As regards the old Naval Yard, all that can be sold has been,

the remainder will be required for a considerable period for the construction

of the mass transit line or its associated works."

/However,