XN000022-1974-08-14 — Page 18

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14, 1974.

TOWN PLANNING POLICY CRITICISED

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THE HON. JAMES WU TODAY CALLED FOR AN EARLY ENACTMENT OF NEW LEGISLATION TO CORRECT AN +INEQUITABLE SITUATION ARISING FROM +INJURIOUS AFFECTION OF PROPERTIES DY DEVELOPMENT SCHEMS AND OF FAILURE BY THE COVERMENT TO PROVIDE COMPENSATION.+

HE STRESSED THAT THIS VAS A HATTER OF CREAT URGENCY AND +A MOST IMPORTANT NATTER OF PRINCIPLE, WHICH APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN OVERLOOKED IN FORHULATING DEVELOPMENT SONENES IN THE PAST.

+EQUALLY IT APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN OVERLOOKED IN SOME RESPECTS IN GOING AHEAD WITH THE HASS TRANSIT SCHEIE,+ HE SAID.

MR. WU POINTED OUT THAT THE COMMUNITY COULD SUPPORT DEVELOPMENT SCHEMES PLANNED FOR SLU CLEARANCE, OR THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY OR RECREATIONAL PURPOSES.

+BUT THERE IS A COROLLARY TO THIS. IF DURING THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPMENT THE RIGHTS OF PROPERTY OWNERS ARE AFFECTED CLEARLY THEY HUST RECEIVE ADEQUATE COMPENSATION.+

APART FROM DEALING WITH THE DIFFICULTIES AND HARDSHIP EXPERIENCE BY HANY PROPERTY CUNERS, HE ALSO TOUCHED ON VARIOUS PROBLEMS THAT PRIVATE DEVELOPERS FACED.

IR. EU WAS SPEAKING DURING THE RESUMED DEDATE ON THE TOWN PLANNING CAMENDMENT AND VALIDATION BILL WHICH WAS PASSED WITH SEVERAL AMENDMENTS.

THE BILL AIMED AT REMOVING UNCERTAINTY OVER THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE WHICH AROSE FOLLOWING A COURT JUDCHENT IN JUNE THIS YEAR. THE JUDGMENT DROUGHT INTO DOVIT TIE VALIDITY OF ALL DRAFT AND APPROVED TOUN PLANS.

THE AMENDMENTS TO THE BILL VERE AGREED BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND AN AD HOC GROUP OF UNOFFICIAL REKBERS.

UNDER ONE AMENDMENT, THE BILL WILL HAVE NO EFFECT ON THE RIGHT OF ANY PERSON L'HOSE PLANS HAVE ALREADY BEEN APPROVED.

OTHER AMENDMENTS PROVIDE FOR A RICHT OF APPEAL FROM THE TOUN PLANNING BOARD TO A HIGHER TRIBUNAL, AND THAT THE DIAGRAMS, ILLUSTRATIONS, NOTES OR DESCRIPTIVE HATTERS ON FLANS WHICH WILL DE VALIDATED BY THE DILL ARE LIITED TO THOSE WHICH VERE ORIGINALLY APPLOVED BY THE TOUN PLANNING COARD.

COMMENTING ON THE DILL, I. WU SAID WHILE THERE APPEARED TO BE NO ALTERNATIVE EUT TO PASS THE LEGISLATION IT WAS A MATTER OF GREAT CONCERN TO THE COMMUNITY THAT THERE WAS NO PROVISION FOR AN APPEAL BEYOND THE TOUN PLAINING COARD ITSELF AND FOR COMPENSATION AS IN THE CASE OF SHILAR LEGISLATION HI THE UNITED KINGDON.

ANOTHER POTE