XN000022-1977-10-27 — Page 15

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1977

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+ THE IR RIGHT TO COMPENSATION WAS IRREVOCABLY LOST THE MOMENT THE CROWN BECAME OWNER. THIS STATE OF AFFAIRS IS OBVIOUSLY UNSATISFACTORY. THE IR HARDSHIP IS JUST THE SAME AS ANY OTHER TENANT,+ HE SAID.

FOR THEM, MR. WONG ADVOCATED THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT EXEMPT ITSELF FROM THE DUTIES AND OBLIGATIONS OF A PRIVATE OWNER.

ON THE RATHER COMPLEX SUBJECT OF TOWN PLANNING, MR. WONG CONFINED HIS SPEECH TO THE AMBIT OF THE TOWN PLANNING LEGISLATION, PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND COMPENSATION.

ON THE FIRST POINT ABOUT THE AMBIT OF THE LEGISLATION, MR. WONG SAID THAT THE TOWN PLANNING ORDINANCE WAS

PASSED IN 1939, WHEN THE GOVERNMENT PLAYED ONLY A COMPARATIVELY MINOR ROLE IN CONTROLLING DEVELOPMENT. THE COUNTRYSIDE HAD NOW ASSUMED CONSIDERABLE IMPORTANCE AND THE TREND WAS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE.

ALTHOUGH THE COUNTRY PARKS ORDINANCE WAS ENACTED IN 1976, ITS PURPOSE WAS NOT IDENTICAL, AND OUTSIDE THE NEW TOWN, +IT IS NOT COMPETENT FOR THE TOWN PLANNING BOARD TO PREPARE PLANS FOR THE RURAL AREAS OF HONG KONG, HE SAID.

HE THEREFORE STRONGLY RECOMMENDED CLEARLY WORDING THE TOWN PLANNING ORDINANCE TO INCLUDE THE RURAL AREAS, SO AS TO GIVE LEGAL BACK ING TO WHATEVER ZONING PLANS WERE NEEDED FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES.

HE ALSO SUGGESTED SETTING UP A SYSTEM OF MAKING INQUIRIES AND SEARCHES AT THE TOWN PLANNING OFFICE TO ENABLE INTERESTED PARTIES TO OBTAIN PRECISE INFORMATION REGARDING DRAFT CR APPROVED PLANS.

ON THE QUESTION OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION, MR. WONG EMPHASISED THAT IN THE UK, LOCAL AUTHORITY WAS REQUIRED TO MAKE PUBLIC ITS DECISION TO PREPARE A PLAN FOR A CERTAIN AREA.

+AS TOWN PLANS ARE BASICALLY DESIGNED FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PEOPLE, IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT THE PUBLIC BE ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE VARIOUS STAGES OF THEIR PREPARATION,+ HE SAID.

HE ASKED THE GOVERNMENT TO INFORM THE PUBLIC OF A COMPLETED DRAFT PLAN OR OF ITS INTENTION TO PREPARE A PLAN IN A MORE POSITIVE WAY.

+NOTIFICATION EY WAY OF A CIRCULAR TO THE OWNERS AND TENANTS DIRECTLY AFFECTED IS ONE GOOD SUGGESTION. WHERE JUSTICE DEMANDS IT, ADMINISTRATIVE DIFFICULTIES CANNOT BE AN EXCUSE, HE SAID.

/ON THE QUESTION