XN000022-1979-07-18 — Page 12

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 18, 1979

MR. YEUNG QUERIED THE MOVE TO EXTEND THE POWERS OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY UNDER THE ORDINANCE TO ALL OF THE NEW TERRITORIES. HE POINTED OUT THAT THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY APPLICABLE TO THE NEW TERRITORIES HAD FOR SEVEN DECADES BEEN ADMINISTRATED BY THE NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, WHICH WAS CHARGED TO RECOGNISE LOCAL CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS AND TO PAY REGARD TO PARTICULAR NEW TERRITORIES CIRCUMSTANCES.

IN ANY EVENT, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, BEING AN INDEPENDENT STATUTORY BODY, IS OUTSIDE THE DIRECT CONTROL OF THE LEGISLATURE OR GOVERNMENT AND THEREFORE NOT SUITABLE FOR THE PURPOSE. IF THE POWERS WERE TO BE VESTED AT ALL IN AN ADDITIONAL AUTHORITY, THE DIRECTOR OF HOUSING WILL BE A BETTER CHOICE, HE SAID.

NEW LAW WILL NOT BRING DRASTIC CHANGE

TO CONTROL OVER LEASED LAND

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THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, THE HON. DAVID AKERS-JONES TODAY (WEDNESDAY) ASSURED NEW TERRITORIES LAND OWNERS THAT THE PRESENT PROCEDURES FOR REPORTING AND DECIDING WHETHER OR NOT AN ILLEGAL STRUCTURE ON PRIVATE LEASED LAND SHOULD BE DEMOLISHED WOULD NOT BE CHANGED.

MR. AKERS-JONES GAVE THIS ASSURANCE AT THE RESUMED DEBATE OF THE CROWN LAND (AMENDMENT) BILL 1979 IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN RESPONSE TO DOUBTS AND ANXIETIES WHICH HAD BEEN EXPRESSED ESPECIALLY BY THE HEUNG YEE KUK WHEN IT WAS EARLIER CONSULTED ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BILL.

HE SAID: THERE IS NO INTENTION ON THE PART OF THE GOVERNMENT TO BE ANY LESS THOROUGH IN THE PROCESS OF ESTABLISHING THE OWNERSHIP OF ANY LAND OR STRUCTURE, ANY PREVIOUS TOLERATION GRANTED AS A RESULT OF A SQUATTER CONTROL SURVEY, OR ANY OF THE OTHER FACTORS WE TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION AT PRESENT.

+AS AN ADDITIONAL RE-ASSURANCE BEFORE ANY ACTION IS TAKEN AGAINST A STRUCTURE ON PRIVATE LAND, THE LAW REQUIRES US TO POST NOTICES UPON IT AND PERSONS AFFECTED BY THESE NOTICES HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE REPRESENTATIONS TO THE DISTRICT OFFICE.+

MR. AKERS-JONES EXPLAINED THAT THE INTRODUCTION OF THE DIRECTOR OF HOUSING AS AN AUTHORITY FOR SQUATTER CONTROL IN THE NEW TERRITORIES WOULD MAKE NO DIFFERENCE IN ITSELF TO THE PRACTICE OF SQUATTER CONTROL.

+ IT AFFECTS NOBODY'S STATUS, NOBODY'S RIGHTS, NOR MY ROLE AS THE LAND AUTHORITY IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, HE STRESSED.

MR. AKS-JONES