XN000022-1973-11-14 — Page 28

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Wednesday,, November 14, 1973

NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT VITAL TO HONG KONG

The Hon. .W. Lee today spoke at length about development in the

New Territories.

Speaking at the Legislative Council, he said that the development

of the New Territories was vital to the development of Hong Kong as a

whole.

He stressed: "The Government foresees the need of developing the

New Territories but the delay of such development is mainly attributable

to the indecisive land policy."

He recalled that as early as 1950, the Government had already

announced its intention to develop and to make full use of the New Territories

and since then, policies for resumption or surrender of land have been

established.

"Eowever, such policies are not only complicated but have also been

changed so frequently that it has cuased overall confusion, interruption

and particularly undue delay, sometimes giving rise to corruption."

Mr. Lee made two points for early consideration by the government.

One was the need for a revised formula for land resumption which would take

into account the development value of land as distinct from its current

value for agricultural purposes, when assessing the rate of compensation.

The other proposal was for the setting up of a permanent land

tribunal which would be more efficient than the present system of appointing

individual land compensation boards.

This,