XN000022-1982-03-25 — Page 6

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THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 1982

HE SAID THERE MUST BE MUTUAL RESPECT AND CO-OPERATION AS WELL AS CONTINUOUS ALERT AGAINST APATHY OR DISILLUSIONMENT BECAUSE OF DELAYS OR BREAKDOWNS IN COMMUNICATION.

MR CHEUNG ALSO PAID TRIBUTE TO THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT FOR ITS ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE PAST YEAR, AND ITS PLANS FOR IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN HONG KONG.

FOR EXAMPLE, HE SAID, THE DEPARTMENT TAKES CARE OF 21 COUNTRY PARKS, COVERING 40 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL LAND AREA OF HONG KONG, WHICH WERE VISITED BY EIGHT MILLION PEOPLE IN THE PAST YEAR.

IN ADDITION TO THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES AND FRIENDS ENJOYING THE GREAT OUTDOORS DURING THE YEAR, THERE WERE ALSO 62 ORGANISED EVENTS, SUCH AS SPONSORED WALKS, CAMPING FESTIVALS AND MARATHON RUNNING. AND 232 000 TREES WERE PLANTED TO MAKE HONG KONG GREENER.

HE ALSO NOTED THAT ONE OF THE DEPARTMENT'S PRINCIPAL DUTIES WAS THE ADMINISTRATION OF CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES.

THIS SYSTEM HAS BEEN OPERATING SINCE THE MID-1940'S, AND HAS BEEN A KEY FACTOR IN THE MAINTENANCE AND DEVELOPMENT OF FARMING AND FISHING.

+HOWEVER, AFTER 40 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE FARMING AND FISHING COMMUNITY, PERHAPS THE TIME HAS COME FOR A REVIEW OF THE CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES SYSTEM.

+ IT IS LESS WELL-KNOWN THAT THE GOVERNMENT ALSO AIDS INDIVIDUAL FARMERS WITH LOANS AND ADVICE. THIS AID SHOULD BE INCREASED AND THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT SHOULD BE WORKING FOR THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES COMMUNITY AT LARGE, HE SAID.

DEALING WITH RESUMPTION OF FARM LAND, MR CHEUNG EXPRESSED DOUBT WHETHER IT IS FAIR FOR TENANT FARMERS TO RECEIVE +CROP COMPENSATION+ IN EXCHANGE FOR THE LAND WHICH WAS THE IR LIVELIHOOD.

+ SUGGEST GOVERNMENT MIGHT ADOPT A MORE CONSTRUCTIVE APPROACH, FOR INSTANCE, TO GRANT EXCHANGE PERMITS TO THESE TENANT FARMERS FOR ALTERNATIVE CROWN LAND SITES WHERE THEY CAN CONTINUE TO FARM, AND WHICH ARE NOT EARMARKED FOR IMMEDIATE DEVELOPMENT, HE SAID.

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TURNING TO THE NEW LANDS DEPARTMENT, MR CHEUNG SAID HE HOPED THE LAND OFFICERS, IN EXECUTING THE IR DUTIES WILL, LIKE WHAT THE DISTRICT OFFICERS HAVE DONE IN THE PAST, GIVE HEED TO THE CULTURAL, SOCIAL, POLITICAL AND OTHER SENSITIVE CONSIDERATIONS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

+ I HOPE GOVERNMENT WILL ENSURE THAT THE 'HANDING OVER' PERIOD OF LAND AUTHORITY WILL NOT DELAY THE PROCESSING OF DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS RATHER THAN EXPEDITING THEM AS IS THE INTENTION OF SETTING UP THIS NEW DEPARTMENT, HE ADDED.

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