XN000022-1974-09-05 — Page 4

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1974

SECRETARY FOR N.T. TO FORM WORKING GROUP

TO DISCUSS LAND MATTERS AFFECTING N.T.

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AT ITS MONTHLY MEETING WITH THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW

TERRITORIES, MEMBERS OF THE HEUNG YEE KUK TODAY CALLED ON GOVERNMENT TO SIMPLIFY ITS LAND EXCHANGE POLICY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES TO DISCOURAGE CORRUPTION.

THE CHAIRMAN OF THE KUK, MR. CHAN YAT-SAN, SAID HE WAS NOT SATISFIED WITH THE PRESENT LAND EXCHANGE SYSTEM, WHICH HE ADDED WAS DICTATED BY TOO MANY +EXPERTS+.

THE SECRETARY, MR. DAVID AKERS-JONES SAID HE WOULD FORM A SMALL WORKING GROUP COMPRISING HIMSELF, THE GOVERNMENT LAND AGENT AND MEMBERS OF THE KUK TO DISCUSS FRANKLY ABOUT LAND MATTERS AFFECTING THE NEW TERRITORIES.

AMENDMENTS WERE ALSO MADE TO THE NEW TERRITORIES SMALL HOUSE POLICY DURING THE MEETING. IT WAS AGREED THAT THE PERIOD DURING WHICH A SMALL HOUSE MUST BE BUILT AFTER THE GRANTING OF THE . APPLICATION SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO 30 MONTHS INSTEAD OF 24. IT WAS ALSO AGREED THAT FINES FOR FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE ABOVE AMENDED REGULATIONS BE REDUCED FROM $200 TO $50.

KOWLOON BAY SQUATTERS GIVEN SITES AT SHEK YAM

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MORE THAN TWO-THIRDS OF THE KOWLOON BAY ILLEGAL SQUATTERS WHO HAVE TO VACATE THE LAND FOR GENERAL DEVELOPMENT HAVE OBTAINED SITES AT SHEK YAM LICENSED AREA TO REBUILD THEIR HUTS.

UP TO TODAY, MORE THAN 800 OF THE 1,150 SQUATTERS HAVE BEEN OFFERED SITES BY THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT AND MANY OF THEM ARE PUTTING UP THEIR HUTS AT THE LICENSED AREA.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT SAID THAT SITE ALLOCATION FOR THE REMAINING SQUATTERS WOULD PROBABLY TAKE TWO OR THREE MORE DAYS TO COMPLETE.

HE CALLED ON THOSE WHO HAVE NOT YET APPROACHED THE DEPARTMENT FOR LICENSED AREA SITES TO DO SO WITHOUT FURTHER DELAY SO THAT THEY COULD HAVE MORE TIME TO PREPARE FOR THEIR REMOVAL.

SOME OF THE REMAINING SQUATTERS HAVE BEEN ADOPTING A WAIT-AND- SEE ATTITUDE TO SEE WHETHER THE DEPARTMENT WOULD OFFER THEM SITES IN KOWLOON BAY TO REBUILD THEIR HUTS.

+ IT IS NOT POSSIBLE FOR THE DEPARTMENT TO ALLOW THESE SQUATTERS TO REBUILD IN KOULOON BAY AS THE FEW REMAINING LICENSED AREA SITES THERE HAVE ALREADY BEEN COMMITTED AND NEW SITES WILL NOT BE READY UNTIL EARLY NEXT YEAR,+ THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED.

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