XN000022-1980-07-09 — Page 16

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 1980

MR HU, WHO SHARED THE VIEWS OF MR LEE, SAID THAT LOCAL DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARDS AND RURAL COMMITTEES SHOULD BE CONSULTED IN THE PLANNING STAGE ON ANY ELECTRICITY NETWORKS AND THAT EVERY EFFORT SHOULD BE MADE TO MINIMISE THE EFFECT ON PRIVATE PROPERTY.

WHENEVER POSSIBLE, HE SAID, ADJUSTMENTS IN THE ROUTE SHOULD BE MADE IN ORDER TO CAUSÉ MINIMUM INTERFERENCE TO THE PEOPLE AFFECTED BY THE ROUTE.

+ THE RIGHT OF PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS SHOULD NOT BE OVERLOOKED.+

IN REPLY, THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON DEREK JONES SAID HE WAS HAPPY TO NOTE THAT THERE WAS COMPLETE AGREEMENT ON THE NEED TO LEGISLATE FOR STATUTORY EASEMENTS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF ELECTRICITY NETWORKS IN THE OVERALL PUBLIC INTEREST.

HE SAID HE WAS VERY READY TO GIVE AN ASSURANCE THAT THE RELEVANT DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARDS AND RURAL COMMITTEES WOULD BE CONSULTED AT THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE OPPORTUNITY IN THE PLANNING OF ANY FUTURE NETWORKS AND THAT THEIR VIEWS WOULD BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT BEFORE ROUTES WERE FINALISED.

+MR CHARLES YEUNG HAS ALSO QUESTIONED THE FAIRNESS AND REASONABLENESS OF THE FORMULA FOR COMPENSATION PROVIDED UNDER THE BILL SINCE IT WOULD PROVIDE FOR MUCH LESS COMPENSATION THAN THE GOVERNMENT WOULD PAY.

+THIS, HOWEVER, APPEARS TO MAKE THE COMPARISON WITH GOVERNMENT RESUMPTION OF LAND WHICH IS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT MATTER TO THE CREATION OF STATUTORY EASEMENTS WHICH DO NOT EXTINGUISH TITLE TO LAND, HE SAID,

MR JONES SAID THAT IN DISCUSSING WITH UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS CONSIDERING THE BILL IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT SOME FORM OF NON-STATUTORY, EX-GRATIA, PAYMENT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED IN ORDER TO GIVE PRIMA FACIÉ RECOGNITION TO THE DISTURBANCE AND POSSIBLE INCONVENIENCE THAT MAY BE SUFFERED BY AFFECTED LANDOWNERS.

HE SAID THIS HAS NOW BEEN LOOKED AT BY THE GOVERNMENT AND THE POWER COMPANY CONCERNED AND THAT A SCHEME, WHICH WILL ENABLE EVERY LANDOWNER AFFECTED BY THE OVERSAILING OF TRANSMISSION LINES TO RECEIVE A SUM OF EX-GRATIA PAYMENT, HAS BEEN AGREED IN PRINCIPLE.

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+ THE DETAILS ARE STILL BEING WORKED OUT BUT, IN THE CASE OF THE 400 KV TRANSMISSION LINE IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, IT IS EXPECTED THAT THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF EX-GRATIA PAYMENT COULD COME TO SOMEWHERE BETWEEN $20 MILLION AND $25 MILLION, + MR JONES SAID.

HE SAID THAT THERE WERE A FEW POINTS OF DETAIL ON CERTAIN ASPECTS OF THE BILL FOR WHICH AMENDMENTS HAVE BEEN AGREED AS A RESULT OF DISCUSSIONS WITH THE UNOFFICIAL

MEMBERS.

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