XN000022-1978-11-02 — Page 8

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1978

7

DEVELOPMENT OF PRIVATE LAND

IN N.T. SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED

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WELL PLANNED DEVELOPMENT OF PRIVATE LAND IN THE NEW TERRITORIES SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED BY THE GOVERNMENT TO SUPPLEMENT ITS OWN EFFORTS IN LAND PRODUCTION, THE HON. CHARLES YEUNG SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

IN MR. YEUNG'S VIEW, THE GOVERNMENT HAS NOT FULLY EXPLORED· THE POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT POSSIBILITIES OF PRIVATE LAND, PARTICULARLY MARGINALLY PRODUCTIVE AGRICULTURAL LAND IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

MOREOVER, HE SAID, WHEN THE GOVERNMENT ALLOWS MODIFICATION OF THE TERMS OF A CROWN LEASE FOR DEVELOPMENT. IT EXACTS A CHARGE OF ABOUT 80 PER CENT OF THE EXPECTED FUTURE PROFIT OF THE DEVELOPMENT FROM THE OWNER AS PREMIUM.

+AS A RESULT, LAND SUITABLE FOR DEVELOPMENT IS IN SHORT SUPPLY AND COMMANDS A HIGHER PRICE.

+WHEN THERE IS SO MUCH LAND WHICH IS READILY DEVELOPABLE IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, THE ARGUMENT THAT THERE IS NOT ENOUGH LAND FOR HOUSING AND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT IS UNTENABLE,+ HE SAID.

MR. YEUNG FURTHER POINTED OUT THAT THE GOVERNMENT, EVEN IN THE TIME OF THE LATE SIR ALEXANDER GRANTHAM, HAS RECOGNISED THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO THE PROVISION OF HOMES AND FACTORIES FOR THEMSELVES.

THIS WAS BORNE OUT BY THE UNPRECEDENTED RATE OF GROWTH OF OUR INDUSTRY AND PROVISION OF HOUSING BY THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND THE IR CONTRIBUTION TO THE BUILDING OF THE NEW COMMUNITIES IN THE TOWNS OF YUEN LONG, TAI PO, SHEUNG SHUI AND FAN LING.

HE THOUGHT IT WAS PROPER TO EXTEND THE LAYOUT PLANS OF THE OLD OR MARKET TOWNS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES TO STIMULATE PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT, AND TO PROVIDE THEM WITH MORE RECREATIONAL FACILITIES AND A BETTER PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, SUCH AS PUBLIC PARKS AND GARDENS.

ONE OF THE MANY AREAS WHICH COULD BE ZONED FOR SUCH DEVELOPMENT, HE ADDED, IS THE EXPANSE OF WASTE AND UNCULTIVATED LAND FROM YUEN LONG TO AU TAU.

HE WELCOMED THE REPORT BY THE COMMITTEE CHAIRED BY SIR YUET-KEUNG KAN ON RESUMPTION OF URBAN LAND IN THE NEW TERRITORIES WHICH HE THOUGHT WAS A BIG STEP FORWARD IN ENABLING SPEEDY LAND PRODUCTION AND IN PROVIDING JUST AND EQUITABLE COMPENSATION TO THOSE WHO ARE DEPRIVED OF THEIR LAND.

+

HE URGED, HOWEVER, THAT A SPEEDY SOLUTION BE FOUND TO THE DISPARITY OF TREATMENT BETWEEN THE RESUMPTION OF LAND WITHIN A LAY-OUT, AND OF LAND IMMEDIATELY OUTSIDE IT.

/WHILE HS.....