XN000022-1979-04-01 — Page 5

SUNDAY, APRIL 1, 1979

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CAMPAIGN TO EDUCATE CROWN LESSEES IN THE N.T.

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THE GOVERNMENT IS LAUNCHING A MINI-CAMPAIGN THIS MONTH (APRIL) TO MAKE CROWN LESSEES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES MORE AWARE OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES AND LIABILITIES TO PAY CROWN RENTS WHEN THEY BECOME DUE.

THE DRIVE-IN THE FORM OF PUBLICITY, PROMOTION AND ADVICE HAS BEEN ORGANISED BY THE NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION AND WILL BE STAGED SIMULTANEOUSLY IN THE SEVEN DISTRICTS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES FROM WEDNESDAY.

IT AIMS TO EDUCATE MORE THAN 68,000 CROWN LESSEES IN RURAL AREAS OF THEIR LEGAL OBLIGATIONS AS +LAND OWNERS+ TO PAY RENTS DUE ON JULY 1 THIS YEAR AND TO REPAY ANY OUTSTANDING RENTS FOR PREVIOUS YEARS IF THEY HAVE NOT ALREADY DONE SO.

IT WILL ALSO GIVE THEM A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE PROCEDURES TO BE FOLLOWED IN MAKING SUCH PAYMENTS.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE ADMINISTRATION SAID TODAY (SUNDAY) UNDER THE LAW, ALL CROWN LESSEES ARE LIABLE TO PAY CROWN RENT WHICH NORMALLY FALLS DUE IN JULY EVERY YEAR. RENTS UNDER $5 CAN BE PAID ONCE EVERY FIVE YEARS.

+ THE ANNUAL CROWN RENT ROLL FOR LEASES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES IS NOW ABOUT $850,000 AND THE RENTS VARY FROM A FEW HUNDRED DOLLARS TO SUMS AS SMALL AS $5,+ HE SAID.

+WE ARE CONCERNED THAT DESPITE THE SMALL SIZE OF INDIVIDUAL AMOUNTS, QUITE A SUBSTANTIAL SUM HAS REMAINED UNPAID OVER THE YEARS.+

IN THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1976-77 ALONE, HE SAID, ABOUT 30 PER CENT OF THE ROLL OF $850,000 WAS NOT COLLECTED.

THE OUTSTANDING FIGURE INCLUDED NOT ONLY ARREARS OF CROWN RENTS DUE, BUT ALSO ARREARS FOR PREVIOUS YEARS AS WELL.

HE POINTED OUT THAT ALTHOUGH EXISTING MEASURES UNDERTAKEN BY DISTRICT OFFICES IN CONTACTING CROWN LESSEES WERE GENERALLY EFFECTIVE, THEIR EFFECTIVENESS IS UNDERMINED BY THE FACT THAT SOME OF THE LESSEES ARE ILLITERATE AND THAT SOME OF THE REGISTERED ADDRESSES ARE INCOMPLETE AND OUT OF DATE.

IMPROVED MEASURES WERE BEING ADOPTED IN AN ATTEMPT TO +CLOSE THE PAYMENTS GAP.+

THESE MEASURES INCLUDE CONSTANT UP-DATING OF THE ADDRESSES OF CROWN LESSEES, IMPROVEMENTS TO THE EXISTING NOTICE, DELIVERY SERVICE, PARTICULARLY IN REMOTE AREAS, AND A GREATER PUBLICITY EFFORT.

/TO AID