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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1977
THE REPORT GOES ON: +BECAUSE THE COMMITTEE'S TERMS OF REFERENCE STIPULATED THAT THE AREAS STUDIED SHOULD BE AREAS WITH 'MINIMAL CLEARANCE' PROBLEMS, THE WORKING PARTY EXCLUDED MANY OTHERWISE SUITABLE AREAS. EVEN SO, THE CLEARANCE IMPLICATIONS MAY WELL BE FORMIDABLE UNLESS A SATISFACTORY CASH COMPENSATION SYSTEM IS WORKED OUT TO REPLACE THE PRESENT SYSTEM OF EXCHANGES, FEW OF THE AREAS CHOSEN INCLUDE ANY SUBSTANTIAL AREA OF CROWN LAND WHICH COULD BE USED FOR EXCHANGES, WITH THE RESULT THAT COMMITMENTS FOR LAND EXCHANGES MAY WELL BE UNACCEPTABLE.+
THE DIFFICULTIES DERIVING FROM CLEARANCES ALSO GAVE CAUSE FOR A NEW LOOK AT LAND POLICY TO PERMIT THE CONVERSION OF AGRICULTURAL LAND FOR INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT ON PAYMENT OF THE APPROPRIATE PREMIUM, SAYS THE REPORT.
+A CHANGE TO A MORE LIBERAL POLICY WOULD HAVE SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL AND PLANNING IMPLICATIONS, AND WOULD UNDOUBTEDLY RESULT IN UNFORESEEN SERVICING COSTS. BUT THE FACT REMAINS THAT THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SOURCE OF LAND, PARTICULARLY FOR INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT, WHICH REQUIRES FURTHER CONSIDERATION.+
A TOTAL OF 11 NEW DEVELOPMENT AREAS WERE IDENTIFIED AND THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED THAT ALL OF THEM SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED COMPREHENSIVELY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
THE COMMITTEE CONSIDERED THAT A COMPREHENSIVE INVESTIGATION OF NORTH LANTAU SHOULD PROCEED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND THAT +SUBJECT TO THE FINDINGS OF THAT INVESTIGATION AND THE IDENTIFICATION OF A DEFICIT BETWEEN THE OVERALL DEMAND FOR AND THE PRODUCTION OF LAND, IT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED WHETHER IT MIGHT BE PREFERABLE TO PROCEED WITH ITS DEVELOPMENT IN ADVANCE OF SOME OR ALL OF THE OTHER AREAS IDENTIFIED BY THE COMMITTEE.+
IT IS STATED IN THE REPORT THAT A PRELIMINARY PLANNING STUDY OF LANTAU HAS SHOWN THAT OVER 2,000 HECTARES OF LAND MIGHT BE PRODUCED.
THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON LAND PRODUCTION WAS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR ON MAY 4 UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, MR. DEREK JONES. THE COMMITTEE PLANS TO SUBMIT A FURTHER REPORT IN ABOUT 18 MONTHS.
CHINESE AND ENGLISH COPIES OF THE REPORT ARE AVAILABLE AT $7 EACH FROM THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE.
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