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FRIDAY, JULY 14, 1978

THE GROUP, WHICH COMPRISED UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. THE HEUNG YEE KUK AND SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, SUBMITTED ITS REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR ON APRIL 20 THIS YEAR AND THE NEW +PACKAGE+ OF PAYMENTS AND PROCEDURES WILL APPLY FRO THAT DATE. THE FIRST REVIEW OF THE RATES WILL BE ON

OCTOBER 1.

THE NEW PACKAGE WILL REPLACE THE OLD SYSTEM WHICH OFFERED AGRICULTURAL LAND OWNERS THE CHOICE OF A LAND EXCHANGE ENTITLEMENT AT A 5:2 RATIO OR CASH COMPENSATION AT THE RATE OF $17 PER SQUARE FOOT.

OWNERS OF BUILDING LAND WERE PREVIOUSLY OFFERED COMPENSATION BASED ON PROFESSIONAL VALUATION, BUT WITHOUT AN EX-GRATIA ELEMENT.

AS IN THE PAST, THOSE OWNERS DISSATISFIED WITH AN OFFER MAY TAKE THEIR CASE TO THE LANDS TRIBUNAL FOR ARBITRATION.

MR. AKERS-JONES SAID TODAY THAT THE NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, AS WELL AS INTRODUCING THE NEW RATES, WOULD BE OFFERING TO BUY IN ANY LAND EXCHANGE ENTITLEMENT DOCUMENTS KNOWN AS LETTER BAT $27 A SQUARE FOOT AND WILL BE PREPARED TO OFFER ANYONE WHO ACCEPTED LETTER B AFTER APRIL 20 THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAND IT IN AND EXCHANGE IT FOR LETTER B UNDER THE NEW SYSTEM.

+ THE ADMINISTRATION WILL BE OFFERING THE BALANCE OF $27 TO THOSE WHO HAVE ACCEPTED $10 OR $17 CASH COMPENSATION IN THE PAST INSTEAD OF LETTER B,+ HE SAID.

MR. AKERS-JONES NOTED THAT THE WORKING GROUP HAD BEEN SET UP BECAUSE THE SCALE OF LAND RESUMPTION BEING IMPLEMENTED AND REQUIRED IN THE FUTURE IN THE NEW TERRITORIES HAD PLACED THE EXCHANGE SYSTEM UNDER SEVERE STRAIN.

+THE TIME HAD ARRIVED FOR WHAT THE GOVERNOR HAD DESCRIBED AS 'FRESH THINKING ON THIS SUBJECT AND THE WORKING GROUP HAS SUBSEQUENTLY PROVIDED THIS,+ HE ADDED.

MR. AKERS-JONES SAID LAND RESUMPTION ANYWHERE IS A COMPLEX MATTER, AND HE WAS VERY GLAD THAT THE WORKING PARTY HAD BEEN ABLE TO PRODUCE ITS RECOMMENDATIONS WITHIN SUCH A SHORT PERIOD.

MEMBERS OF SIR YUET-KEUNG KAN'S WORKING GROUP WERE: THE HON. LI FOOK-WO, THE HON. PETER C. WONG, THE HON. CHARLES YEUNG SIU-CHO, ALL MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL- SIR DONALD LUDDINGTON, CHAIRMAN OF THE PUBLIC SERVICES COMMISSION= MR. CHAN YAT-SAN, MR. CHEUNG YAN-LUNG, MR. TSANG LIN, MR. LAU WONG-FAT, ALL SENIOR MEMBERS OF THE HEUNG YEE KUK- MR. J.W. CHAMBERS, DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES MR. G. BARNES, DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT- MR. MICHAEL M.Y. SUEN, PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT (SECRETARY).

COPIES OF THE WORKING GROUP'S REPORT, IN ENGLISH AND CHINESE ARE NOW AVAILABLE FROM THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE AT 10 PER COPY.

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