XN000022-1979-03-22 — Page 4

THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 1979

L

3

GOVT RESTRICTS LIVESTOCK IMPORTS

*****

THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT TODAY (THURSDAY) ADVISED IMPORTERS THAT THE IMPORT OF CATTLE AND PIGS FROM OVERSEAS WILL BE RESTRICTED WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT.

THE ORDER WAS MADE AS THE BUTCHERS' GO-SLOW ACTION ENTERED ITS SECOND DAY.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID THAT ALL IMPORTERS OF OVERSEAS CATTLE AND PIGS AND SHIPPING COMPANIES WERE ADVISED BY LETTER NOT TO PREPARE FOR THE IMPORTATION OF LIVESTOCK UNLESS THEY HAD A SPECIAL PERMIT ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT.

THE PERMIT, IF ISSUED, WOULD RESTRICT THE NUMBER OF LIVESTOCK WHICH COULD BE IMPORTED.

THE PERMITS WOULD BE ISSUED ON AN INDIVIDUAL AND DAY-BY-DAY BASIS DEPENDING ON THE HOLDING CAPACITY AT ANY GIVEN TIME.

THE MAXIMUM ESTIMATED CAPACITY FOR CATTLE IS 7,177 HEAD AND PIGS, 24,120.

THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT AN INSPECTION OF THE ABATTOIRS AND DEPOTS TODAY REVEALED THAT HOLDING CAPACITY+ WAS ABOUT FULL.

PERMITS HAVE BEEN ISSUED TO IMPORTERS OF OVERSEAS LIVESTOCK FOR THE IMPORTATION OF 4,100 HEAD OF CATTLE AND 600 PIGS BETWEEN MARCH 19 AND 31.

INCREASES IN COMPENSATION FOR RESUMED LAND IN N.T.

*****

THE GOVERNMENT TODAY (THURSDAY) ANNOUNCED INCREASES IN ITS COMPENSATION RATES FOR LAND RESUMED IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

AS FROM APRIL 1, 1979, OWNERS OF RESUMED AGRICULTURAL LAND WITHIN THE NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT AREAS WILL BE COMPENSATED AT THE NEW FULL RATE OF $53 PER SQUARE FOOT INSTEAD OF $39 PER SQUARE FOOT AN INCREASE OF ABOUT 36 PER CENT.

THE EX-GRATIA ALLOWANCE OFFERED TO OWNERS OF RESUMED BUILDING LAND WITHIN THE NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT AREAS WILL BE AT THE NEW FULL RATE OF $113 PER SQUARE FOOT INSTEAD OF $79 PER SQUARE FOOT -- A 43 PER CENT INCREASE.

GIVING DETAILS OF THE NEW RATES TODAY, THE PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT LAND AGENT OF THE NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, MR. F.D. ROOME, SAID THEY HAD BEEN DRAWN UP IN LINE WITH THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY OF CONDUCTING HALF-YEARLY REVIEWS OF COMPENSATION RATES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

/THE POLICY