XN000022-1975-12-24 — Page 3

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1975

ALSO, IF IT APPEARS THAT THE USE OR PROPOSED USE OF LEASED LAND WITHIN A COUNTRY PARK WOULD REDUCE THE ENJOYMENT AND AMENITIES OF THE COUNTRY PARK, THE AUTHORITY MAY REQUEST THE LAND AUTHORITY TO HAVE IT STOPPED OR MODIFIED.

OWNERS OR DEVELOPERS OF THE LAND CONCERNED, WHO ARE REFUSED PERMISSION TO CARRY OUT NEW DEVELOPMENT WHICH WOULD OTHERVISE HAVE DEEN ALLOWED OR WHO ARE ORDERED TO STOP OR MODIFY THE PROPOSED USE OF THE LAND, WILL BE ABLE TO CLAIM COMPENSATION.

UNDER THE BILL THE GOVERNOR IS EMPOWERED TO EXCLUDE FROM ANY COUNTRY PARK OR SPECIAL AREA CERTAIN AREAS AND BUILDINGS SUCH AS TRADITIONAL BURIAL GROUNDS, TEMPLES AND HONUMENTS.

COMMENTING ON THE PROPOSED NEW LEGISLATION, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID: THE INTENSE PRESSURE THAT IS BEING PUT ON THE COUNTRYSIDE HAS HIGHLIGHTED THE INADEQUACY OF THE EXISTING LEGISLATION FOR PROTECTION AND MANAGEMENT PURPOSES. IT WAS ORIGINALLY ENACTED IN 1937 GEARED TO A SITUATION WHERE A POPULATION OF LESS THAN ONE MILLION

INCLUDED A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF PEASANT FARMERS WHO RELIED ON WOOD FOR FUEL, TIMBER FOR BUILDING PURPOSES AND HILLSIDE GRAZING FOR THEIR CATTLE.

+CLEARLY THIS SITUATION NO LONGER APPLIES WITH A POPULATION OF 4.3 MILLION WHO ARE PREDOMINANTLY URBAN DWELLERS LOOKING UPON THE COUNTRYSIDE PRINCIPALLY AS A RECREATIONAL OUTLET. THIS NEW LEGISLATION WILL INCLUDE FORESTED AREAS AND THE TRACTS OF THE COUNTRYSIDE WHICH ARE UNDER HEAVY PRESSURE FROM VISITORS, THE SPECIAL AREAS WILL COMPRISE SUCH THINGS AS FORESTS, BARBECUE AND PICNIC SPOTS AND SITES OF SPECIAL SCIENTIFIC INTEREST.+

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