XN000022-1978-07-05 — Page 17

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 5, 1978

CROWN LEASE (AMENDMENT) BILL BECOMES LAW

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THE CROWN LEASE (AMENDMENT) BILL 1978 WAS PASSED INTO LAW IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY AFTER SPECIFIC POINTS CONCERNING THE AMENDING LEGISLATION WERE RESOLVED IN MEETINGS BETWEEN AN UMELCO AD HOC GROUP AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS.

SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE BILL, THE HON. PETER C. WONG WHO IS A MEMBER OF THE AD HOC GROUP SAID THE SPECIFIC POINTS WERE RESOLVED AFTER IT WAS AGREED THAT THE. INTERIM VALUATIONS REFERRED TO IN THE BILL SHALL BE MADE IN RESPECT OF NEW OR REDEVELOPED BUILDINGS ONLY, AND WHERE A BUILDING STRADDLES TWO OR MORE LOTS. A TENEMENT IN THAT BUILDING SHALL BE DEEMED TO STRADDLE THE LOTS AND ITS RATEABLE VALUE SHALL BE CALCULATED ON THE PROPORTION THAT THE LOT BEARS TO THE AREA OF ALL THE LOTS ON WHICH THE BUILDING STANDS.

+THIS SOLUTION HAS TO A LARGE EXTENT SIMPLIFIED THE COMPLICATED CONCEPTS AND HENCE THE DRAFTING. THE GENERAL PROBLEM IS THUS RESOLVED, + MR. WONG SAID.

IN REPLY, THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON. DEREK JONES, THANKED THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBER FOR HIS EFFORTS TO IMPROVE AND CLARIFY THE COMPLICATED LEGISLATION.

+THE BILL, AS IT WILL BE AMENDED, WILL BE MUCH BETTER THAN THE ORIGINAL AND THIS DEMONSTRATES THE VALUE OF THIS COUNCIL AS A LEGISLATIVE BODY,+ MR. JONES SAID.

+I WILL HAVE MUCH PLEASURE IN SUPPORTING THE AMENDMENTS WHEN THEY ARE MOVED IN COMMITTEE,+ HE ADDED.

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