XN000022-1980-03-26 — Page 10

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 1980

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LAND ADMINISTRATION NEEDS RESTRUCTURING

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THE GOVERNMENT WAS URGED TO MAKE A DEFINITIVE STATEMENT OVER ITS LAND ADMINISTRATION POLICY.

THE CALL CAME FROM THE HON LYDIA DUNN WHO SAID THAT THE PRESENT ARRANGEMENTS FOR LAND ADMINISTRATION SEEM RIDICULOUS AND INVOLVE A GREAT DEAL OF DUPLICATION OF EFFORT AND UNNECESSARY WASTE OF TIME AND MANPOWER+.

REFERRING TO A STATEMENT BY THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT IN RESPONSE TO HER CALL FOR A SINGLE LANDS DEPARTMENT LAST APRIL, SHE SAID THE OUTCOME OF THIS REVIEW HAD YET TO BE DISCLOSED.

WHILE AGREEING THAT THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY'S FORECAST OF LAND PRODUCTION AND SALES OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS WAS A DISTINCT

IMPROVEMENT, MISS DUNN ATTRIBUTED THE FAILURE TO PRODUCE AND SELL MORE LAND IN THE PAST TO THE UNNECESSARILY COMPLICATED ARRANGEMENTS FOR LAND ADMINISTRATION BETWEEN THE NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT. THE ENVIRONMENT BRANCH OF THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT AND THE REGISTRAR GENERAL'S DEPARTMENT.

AT VARIOUS TIMES AND STAGES, SHE CONTINUED, THE INVOLVEMENT OF A BEWILDERING MULTIPLICITY OF DEPARTMENTS, OFFICES, BRANCHES, COMMITTEES AND SUB-COMMITTEES IS REQUIRED.

+ONE CONSEQUENCE OF THIS SPLITTING UP OF RESPONSIBILITIES IS THAT THERE IS NO CENTRAL RECORD KEEPING, MISS DUNN POINTED OUT.

+FURTHERMORE, THERE ARE NO UNIFORM CONCEPTS. TIME AND AGAIN, FOR EXAMPLE, ONE DEPARTMENT OR OFFICE OR BRANCH OR COMMITTEE OR SUB-COMMITTÉE REFERS TO GROSS AREAS WHILE ANOTHER TO NET.

*THERE IS NOT EVEN, I SUSPECT, AN AGREED DEFINITION OF WHAT IS MEANT BY LAND PRODUCTION' AND THE LAND SALES PROGRAMME SEEMS TO CHANGE DAILY, BUT I SHALL NOT EMBARRASS ANYONE BY ASKING WHY WE ONLY SOLD 95 ACRES OF LAND IN 1979-80 INSTEAD OF THE ESTIMATED 134 ACRES.+

ON THE SUBJECT OF TRANSPORT, MISS DUNN SAID +PRIVATE CARS ARE INEFFICIENT ROAD USERS, AND IT MAY BE THE IR UNNECESSARY USAGE SHOULD BE DISCOURAGED, BUT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD DO WELL TO ACCEPT THAT THE NUMBERS OF PRIVATE CARS WILL INCREASE.

+SO, INSTEAD OF DEVISING WAYS AND MEANS TO FRUSTRATE THIS NATURAL ASPIRATION, IT IS UP TO THE GOVERNMENT TO IMPROVE THE NETWORK OF ROADS TO CATER TO THIS FACT OF LIFE.+

AS REGARDS PUBLIC TRANSPORT, SHE STATED: IF THE GROWTH IN THE NUMBER OF PRIVATE CARS ON THE ROADS IS A MATTER OF CONCERN, THE GOVERNMENT IS LARGELY TO BLAME BECAUSE CAR USAGE, AND EVEN CAR OWNERSHIP, REFLECTS THE INADEQUACY OF OUR PUBLIC TRANSPORT SERVICES AND I AM REFERRING PARTICULARLY TO THE BUS SERVICES.

/+THERE IS

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