XN000022-1974-11-14 — Page 9

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1974.

LAND TO BE GRANTED ON NEW PRIORITY SYSTEM

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A SPECIAL COMMITTEE HAS BEEN SET UP BY THE GOVERNMENT TO STREAMLINE THE PROCESSING OF LAND GRANTS FOR MAJOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AND TO REDUCE DELAYS TO A MINIMUM.

ANNOUNCING THIS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY, THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON. JAMES ROBSON, SAID HE BELIEVED THAT MUCH OF THE DELAY IN THE PAST HAD ARISEN FROM A FAILURE TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE IMPORTANT AND LESS IMPORTANT PROJECTS AND ASPECTS OF LAND WORK.

BECAUSE OF THIS, A PRIORITY SYSTEM HAS BEEN DEVISED TO ENSURE THAT PROJECTS WHICH WILL BE MOST BENEFICIAL TO HONG KONG SHOULD PROCEED AS FAST AS POSSIBLE AND THAT EFFORTS SHOULD BE CONCENTRATED ON THOSE PROJECTS FOR WHICH FINANCE IS AVAILABLE.

MR. ROBSON ADDED THAT WE MUST DO ALL WE CAN TO ENCOURAGE EMPLOYMENT, TO ATTRACT CAPITAL INVESTMENT AND TO PREPARE OUR BUILDING INDUSTRY FOR THE NEXT PERIOD OF ECONOMIC EXPANSION. +

HE MADE IT CLEAR THAT PROJECTS WOULD BE GIVEN PRIORITY SPARINGLY, AND THEN ONLY FOR VERY MAJOR ONES.

MR. ROBSON EMPHASISED THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS FULLY AWARE THAT WITH ANY PRIORITY SYSTEM THERE WILL BE ALLEGATIONS OF CORRUPT PRACTICES, PARTICULARLY FROM THOSE WHO DO NOT RECEIVE PRIORITY, AND OUR PROCEDURES ARE BEING PLANNED WITH THIS IN MIND.+

ONCE A SCHEME IS PLACED ON THE PRIORITY LIST, THE LAND AUTHORITIES MUST TREAT IT WITH URGENCY AND AUTOMATIC PRIORITY WILL BE GIVEN BY THE BUILDING AUTHORITY AND FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO ANY BUILDING PLANS SUBMITTED IN RESPECT OF IT, HE ADDED,

TURNING TO THE PROPOSAL FOR AN OIL REFINERY - PETROCHEMICAL COMPLEX, THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AGREED THAT THERE WAS A NEED TO TAKE AN EARLY DECISION ON THIS PROJECT.

HE SAID THE PRELIMINARY PROPOSALS SUBMITTED BY THE TWO APPLICANTS HAD BEEN APPRAISED AND CONSULTANTS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNMENT HAD ADVISED THAT WITH PROPER CONTROLS, THE ENVIRON- MENTAL IMPACT OF SUCH A COMPLEX WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE.

+BUT IN THE MEANTIME THE ORIGINAL PROPOSALS WERE OVERTAKEN BY THE WORLD OIL CRISIS AND THERE HAS BEEN AN OBVIOUS NEED FOR THE TWO CONSORTIA TO REASSESS VIABILITY OF THE SCHEME, THE POTENTIAL SOURCES OF CRUDE OIL AND THE MARKETS FOR THE PRODUCTS.+

AT PRESENT THEY ARE PREPARING DETAILED PROPOSALS COVERING ALL ASPECTS OF THE PROJECT AND IT WAS HOPED THESE WOULD BE RECEIVED SOON.

/MEANWHILE,