XN000022-1979-09-11 — Page 2

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1979

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#NSTALMENT SYSTEM FOR

AUCTION SALES OF CROWN LAND

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PURCHASERS OF VALUABLE COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL SITES SOLD AFTER THE BEGINNING OF DECEMBER 1979 WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PAY THE PREMIUM BY INSTALMENTS, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ANNOUNCED TODAY (TUESDAY).

THE SPOKESMAN RECALLED THAT THE INSTALMENT SYSTEM FOR AUCTION SALES OF CROWN LAND HAD BEEN INTRODUCED IN 1969 TO STIMULATE INTEREST IN THE REAL ESTATE MARKET AT A TIME WHEN THE PROPERTY MARKET WAS SLUGGISH. THE SYSTEM HAS BEEN USED WITH MINOR VARIATIONS EVER SINCE. HE SAID THAT THE SYSTEM WAS NO LONGER JUSTIFIED AS THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF DEVELOPERS HAVING DIFFICULTIES IN FINDING FINANCE TO PURCHASE AND DEVELOP LAND.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE PROVISION FOR THE PAYMENT OF PREMIUM BY INSTALMENTS WOULD REMAIN FOR THOSE SITES FOR WHICH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE HAD BEEN PUBLISHED OR WERE IN AN ADVANCED STATE OF PREPARATION. THE FIRST SALES OF VAULABLE SITES WHERE THE INSTALMENT CONDITION WOULD BE OMITTED WOULD BE IN DECEMBER, 1979.

HE ALSO SAID THAT IT IS NOT PROPOSED TO CHANGE THE SYSTEM FOR SALES OF INDUSTRIAL LAND AT PRESENT BUT THE EFFECT ON

INDUSTRY OF WITHDRAWING OR AMENDING THE PRESENT INSTALMENT TERMS FOR INDUSTRIAL LAND IS BEING EXAMINED AND A DECISION WILL BE MADE LATER.

A REVIEW OF THE TERMS OF SALE OF LAND WAS MENTIONED BY THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT IN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON APRIL 11 THIS YEAR.

HONG KONG DECLARED CHOLERA INFECTED

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HONG KONG HAS BEEN DECLARED A CHOLERA INFECTED AREA FOR THE SECOND TIME WITHIN A MONTH FOLLOWING THE DISCOVERY OF TWO NEW LOCAL CASES OF THE INFECTIOUS DISEASE.

ANNOUNCING THIS TODAY. A SPOKESMAN FOR THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT SAID THERE WAS NO CAUSE FOR ALARM AS +THERE IS NO CONNECTION BETWEEN THE TWO CASES+.

HE POINTED OUT THAT CHOLERA, OF THE EL TOR STRAIN, IS ENDEMIC IN THE SOUTHEAST ASIAN REGION AND THEREFORE THE OCCURRENCE OF SPORADIC CASES IN HONG KONG WAS NOT UNEXPECTED.

THE FIRST OF THE TWO CASES INVOLVED A 28-YEAR-OLD MAN, CHEUNG KAM-CHOI, WHO LIVES IN PEI HO STREET, SHAM SHUI PO, WHILE THE OTHER CASE, A 43-YEAR-OLD MAN, LUX FAT, CAME FROM WEST STREET, SHEUNG WAN, ON THE ISLAND.

MR. CHEUNG........