XN000022-1980-01-30 — Page 9

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 1980

SECOND, IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED THAT THE PRACTICE OR MALPRACTICE OF REQUIRING A PROSPECTIVE TENANT TO TURN HIMSELF INTO A LIMITED COMPANY FOR THE PURPOSE OF ENTERING INTO A TENANCY AGREEMENT HAS BEEN QUITE PREVALENT AND, IT IS ARGUED, THAT TO STOP THIS MALPRACTICE, IT IS NECESSARY TO EXTEND PROTECTION TO LIMITED COMPANIES.

HE ASKED WOULD IT NOT BE BETTER TO RECTIFY SUCH DEFECTS IN THE LEGISLATION BY SPECIFIC PROVISIONS RATHER THAN EXTENDING BLANKET PROTECTION TO ALL CORPORATIONS?

THE HON WONG LAM

HE URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO REVIEW ITS LAND POLICY AND RELATED ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES TO SEE IF THEY ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE PRESENT NEEDS OF HONG KONG.

HE ALSO ASKED THE GOVERNMENT TO FIND OUT IF THERE ARE ANY NEW IDEAS OR SIMPLER AND QUICKER ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESSES TO COPE WITH NEW CONDITIONS AND NEEDS.

+ AM OF THE OPINION THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD SET UP A LAND POLICY ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO WHICH EXPERIENCED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC COULD BE INVITED TO JOIN, HE SAID.

HE BELIEVED THIS WOULD BE MORE EFFECTIVE THAN THE PRESENT PRACTICE OF HAVING THE LAND POLICY FORMULATED BY GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ALONE.

TO DEAL WITH THE HOUSING PROBLEM, MR WONG SUGGESTED THAT OVERALL AND THOROUGH MEASURES HAVE TO BE TAKEN, SUCH AS TO PROVIDE MORE LAND FOR RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT AT A FASTER RATE, TO INCREASE THE RATIO OF BUILDING AREA TO LAND. TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF HOME OWNERSHIP FLATS AND EXPEDITE THE SCHEME AND TO PERMIT PRIVATE DEVELOPERS TO CARRY OUT RECLAMATION THEMSELVES.

ON THE BILL ITSELF, MR WONG CRITICISED IT AS HAVING PLACED TOO MUCH EMPHASIS ON THE PROTECTION OF THE INTERESTS OF PRINCIPAL TENANTS BUT THAT OF THE SUB-TENANTS WAS NEGLECTED.

HE SUGGESTED THAT THE WORDINGS OF THE BILL SHOULD BE STRENGTHENED TO PROTECT THE INTERESTS OF THE SUB-TENANTS WITHOUT DELAY.

THE HON