XN000022-1975-01-22 — Page 16

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22, 1975

EFFECT OF URBAN IMPROVEMENT SCHEMES ON PRIVATE PROPERTIES

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, THE HON, DENYS ROBERTS, SAID TODAY THAT GOVERNMENT WILL HAVE TO CONSIDER WAYS OF REDUCING THE EFFECT OF THE URBAN IMPROVEMENT SCHEMES ON PRIVATE PROPERTIES IN VIEW OF THE FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS WHICH THE GOVERNMENT IS LIKELY TO FACE IN THE NEXT YEAR.

HE WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION DY THE HON. T.S. LO WHO ASKED WHEN WILL GOVERNMENT DECIDE EITHER TO PAY FOR OR DEFROST THE PROPERTIES LOCATED IN THE URDAH RENEWAL AND UNBAN IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS WHICH HAVE BEEN FROZEN BY TOWN PLANNING DECISIONS.

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY RECALLED THAT THE EARLIER DECISION TO IMPLEMENT THE URDAN IMPROVEMENT SCHEMES (INCLUDING THAT FOR THE URBAN RENEWAL DISTRICT IN WESTERN) WAS CONFIRMED BY THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL IN SEPTEMBER.

+A REVISED ESTIMATE OF THE COST OF ACQUISITION OF PRIVATE PROPERTY AFFECTED BY THESE SCHEMES AND THE NECESSARY FINANCIAL PROVISION WERE APPROVED DY FINANCE COMMITTEE SHORTLY THEREAFTER, KE SAID.

SINCE THEN, NEGOTIATIONS HAVE DEEN PROCEEDING WITH OWNERS AND AGREEMENT ON ACQUISITION TERMS HAS DEEN REACHED IN MANY CASES.

+HOWEVER, IN VIEW OF THE FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS TO WHICH WE ARE LIKELY TO BE SUBJECTED IN THE NEXT YEAR, THE GOVERNMENT IS HAVING TO CONSIDER WAYS OF REDUCING THE EFFECT OF THESE SCHEMES ON PRIVATE PROPERTY IN THESE AREAS, MR. RODENTS SAID.

PROPOSALS, HE CONTINUED, WOULD PROBABLY BE SUBMITTED TO THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

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