XN000022-1974-11-13 — Page 29

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1974

CHARITIES (LAND ACQUISITION) (REPEAL) BILL, 1974.

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THE CHARITIES (LAND ACQUISITION) ORDINANCE, ENACTED IN 1958 WITH A VIEW TO PREVENT EXCESSIVE AREAS OF LAND IN THE HANDS OF CHARITABLE BODIES AND THEREBY TO ENSURE THAT THE BEST USE AND DEVELOPMENT BE MADE OF SUCH LAND, IS TO BE REPEALED.

THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT. MR. JAMES ROBSON, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THIS AFTERNOON THAT THE ORDINANCE HAD ACHIEVED LITTLE.

IN MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE CHARITIES (LAND ACQUISITION) (REPEAL) BILL, 1974, HE SAID: IT WAS ARGUED, AT THE TIME OF ENACTMENT, THAT BECAUSE OF THE TENDENCY OF CHARITABLE BODIES, BY VIRTUE OF PERPETUAL SUCCESSION, TO RETAIN LAND INDEFINITELY AND NOT TO DEVELOP IT FULLY, GOVERNMENT STANDS TO LOSE ESTATE DUTY, STAMP DUTY ON CONVEYANCES, AND RATES. ·

+THE FEELING NOW, HOWEVER, IS THAT ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES IN HONG KONG NORMALLY DICTATE THE FULLEST POSSIBLE DEVELOPMENT OF LAND WHETHER OR NOT IT IS OWNED BY A CHARITABLE BODY,+

THE RECORD SHOWED, HE CONTINUED, THAT SINCE THE ORDINANCE CAME INTO FORCE, ONLY ONE OUT OF OVER 750 APPLICATIONS HAD BEEN REFUSED FOR REASONS STRICTLY CONNECTED WITH ITS PROVISION, AND ONLY ANOTHER 12 HAD BEEN REFUSED FOR OTHER REASONS.

IN THE PAST 16 YEARS, ALMOST 14 MILLION SQUARE FEET OF LAND AND OVER 400 UNDIVIDED SHARES IN MULTI-STOREY BUILDINGS HAD BEEN ACQUIRED BY CHARITIABLE BODIES UNDER LICENCE UNDER THE ORDINANCE.

HE ADDED: +THE ORDINANCE APPEARS THEREFORE TO BE ACHIEVING LITTLE BUT IT DOES OCCUPY THE TIME OF VALUABLE PROFESSIONAL STAFF, CHIEFLY IN THE REGISTRAR GENERAL'S DEPARTMENT AND, TO A LESSER EXTENT, IN THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE AND FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

+IT ALSO PLACES ON CHARITABLE BODIES A TEDIOUS OBLIGATION AS WELL AS A BURDEN IN THE FORM OF FEES FOR SOLICITORS' SERVICES.+

MR. ROBSON SAID HE WAS THEREFORE CONVINCED THAT +TO REPEAL THE ORDINANCE WOULD BE NOT MERELY A CHARITABLE ACT BUT ALSO A HIGHLY PRACTICAL ONE IN THAT IT WOULD ELIMINATE UNNECESSARY CONTROLS AND FREE GOVERNMENT STAFF AND PERHAPS SOLICITORS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR FOR MORE USEFUL WORK.+

DEBATE ON THE MOTION WAS ADJOURNED.

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