XN000022-1975-10-08 — Page 14

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WEDNESDAY, OC: ER 8, 1975

NEW TERRITORIES COMPENSATION AND MANAGEMENT OF LEW TOWNS

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THE GOVERNOR TODAY EMPHASISED THAT IT WAS MOST IMPORTANT THAT FAIR AND REASONABLE COMPENSATION BE OFFERED WHEN LANDS WERE ACQUIRED FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW TOWNS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

HE DISCLOSED THAT 55 MILLION SQUARE FEET OF PRIVATE AGRICULTURAL LAND AND FOUR MILLION SQUARE FEET OF BUILDING LAND WOULD HAVE TO BE RESUMED TO COMPLETE THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW TOWNS.

HE SAID, THE DISTURBANCE TO EXISTING RIGHTS IS GREAT AND IT IS MOST IMPORTANT THAT FAIR AND REASONABLE COMPENSATION BE OFFERED WHEN THESE LANDS ARE ACQUIRED.

THE GOVERNOR RECALLED THAT DURING THE COURSE OF THE BUDGET DEBATE THIS YEAR, THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES HAD SPOKEN OF THE WORK WHICH WAS IN PROGRESS TO REVIEW COMPENSATION ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE RESUMPTION OF LAND WITHIN THE NEW TOUNS AND OF THE USEFUL DISCUSSIONS HE HAD HELD WITH MEMBERS OF THE HEUNG YEE KUK.

SINCE THEN, HE SAID, CHANGES TO THE SYSTEM HAD BEEN APPROVED BY THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AND THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES WOULD SHORTLY MAKE PUBLIC THE DETAILS OF THE NEW ARRANGEMENTS.

+THE CHANGES NOW APPROVED WILL I TRUST. PROVIDE AN ACCEPTABLE ALTERNATIVE AND REMOVE THE PRESENT DISSATISFACTION WITH THE EXCHANGE SYSTEM,+ HE SAID.

TURNING TO THE MANAGEMENT OF THE NEW TOWNS, THE GOVERNOR SAID THAT IF THE NEW TOWNS WERE TO BECOME WELL BALANCED COMMUNITIES WITH A FULL AND VARIED LIFE OF THEIR OWN, IT WOULD BE NECESSARY TO DEVISE SOME MEANS OF INVOLVING THEIR RESIDENTS IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND USE OF THE FACILITIES WHICH WERE BEING PROVIDED.

+TSUEN WAN IN PARTICULAR HAS ALREADY REACHED THE STAGE WHERE IT IS ESSENTIAL TO ASSOCIATE LOCAL RESIDENTS WITH THE PROCESS OF PLANNING THE DETAILS OF AMENITIES SUCH AS PARKS, AND PLAYGROUNDS, SWIMMING POOLS AND OTHER SPORTS FACILITIES, AND WITH THE ORGANISATION OF THE ACTIVITIES WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE IN THEM,+ HE NOTED.

THE GOVERNOR SUGGESTED THAT A COMMITTEE BE SET UP UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE DISTRICT OFFICER WHICH WOULD BRING TOGETHER LOCAL RESIDENTS WITH A GENUINE INTEREST IN, AND KNOWLEDGE OF THESE MATTERS, TOGETHER WITH THE OFFICIALS WHO WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THESE ASPECTS OF THE DEVELOPMENT PLAN,

+THIS IDEA STILL HAS TO BE WORKED OUT IN DETAIL BUT I AM CONVINCED THAT SOMETHING ON THESE LINES IS NECESSARY IF TSUEN WAN AND THE OTHER NEW TOWNS ARE TO BECOME WELL BALANCED COMMUNITIES WITH A FULL AND VARIED LIFE OF THEIR OWN,+ HE SAID.

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