XN000022-1979-07-18 — Page 13

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 18, 1979

MR. AKERS-JONES ALSO ASSURED PROPERTY OWNERS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES THAT NO ACTION WOULD BE TAKEN AGAINST STRUCTURES WHICH HAD BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR A LONG TIME EVEN THOUGH THERE MIGHT BE NO RECORD OF THEM ON OFFICE FILES BECAUSE THEY WERE BUILT WHEN THE ADMINISTRATION TO RECORD THEM WAS LACKING OR DURING THE JAPANESE OCCUPATION,

IN APPROPRIATE CASES, HE SAID, THESE STRUCTURES WILL BE RECORDED AND PAST OMISSION RECTIFIED.

AS TO THE QUESTION OF WHAT ACTION GOVERNMENT WILL TAKE WHEN UNLAWFUL STRUCTURES ON LEASED LAND ERECTED BY TENANTS OR TRESPASSERS WERE REPORTED BY THE LAND OWNER, MR. AKERS-JONES SAID IF THE OFFENCE IS LONG-STANDING, TOLERATED AFTER RECOGNITION IN A SURVEY, WE SHALL NOT TAKE ACTION.+

+IN SUCH CASES, A LAND OWNER MAY WELL HAVE RECOURSE AT THE CIVIL LAW, BUT THAT IS A DIFFERENT MATTER.+

+OUR AIM IS FAIRNESS IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE ORDINANCE,+ HE ADDED.

THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR HOUSING, THE HON. DONALD LIAO, ALSO ASSURED THAT THE HAND-OVER TO THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR SQUATTER CONTROL IN THE NEW TERRITORIES WOULD NOT BRING ANY DRASTIC CHANGE CONCERNING LEASED LAND.

IN WINDING UP THE DEBATE ON THE CROWN LAND (AMENDMENT) BILL 1979, MR. LIAO SAID LAND-OWNERS AND TENANTS WOULD FIND THAT +IN THIS CASE THE DEVIL THEY DO NOT KNOW AS YET IS LITTLE WORSE (OR SHOULD I SAY BETTER) THAN THE DEVIL WHO IS ALREADY WITH THEM. +

THE HAND-OVER OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR SQUATTER CONTROL, FROM THE NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION TO THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT, WOULD BE A GRADUAL PROCESS, HE SAID.

IT SPRANG FROM A RECOGNITION THAT THE TWIN PROBLEMS OF PREVENTION OF SQUATTING AND PROVISION OF PUBLIC HOUSING WOULD BE BETTER HANDLED BY THE ONE DEPARTMENT.

MR. LIAO SAID HE WAS SATISFIED WITH THE EXISTING CHANNELS OF APPEAL WHERE NOTICES WERE POSTED ON UNAUTHORISED STRUCTURES ON LEASED LAND.

+1 WOULD ASSURE MEMBERS THAT IN THE POSTING OF THE NOTICE ITSELF, THE OPPORTUNITY IS PROVIDED TO ENABLE THE LEASEE TO RE-CONVERT HIS STRUCTURES TO AN AUTHORISED USE OR TO TAKE UP WITH THE LAND AUTHORITY THE QUESTION OF WHETHER SUCH USE IS PROPER OR NOT, HE SAID.

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