XN000022-1982-04-14 — Page 10

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 1962

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COMMENTING ON MR HU'S THREE SPECIFIC SUGGESTIONS, HE SAID: +THE FIRST, UNDER WHICH LETTER B HOLDERS WOULD TAKE UP A PERCENTAGE OF THE RESIDENTIAL ELEMENT AS WELL AS THE WHOLE OF THE COMMERCIAL ELEMENT IN HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEMES OR PUBLIC RENTAL HOUSING PROJECTS, COULD ONLY BE ACHIEVED EITHER AT THE EXPENSE OF THE HOME OWNERSHIP OR PUBLIC HOUSING PROGRAMMES OR BY EATING INTO THE NORMAL LAND SALES PROGRAMME.

+ IN OTHER WORDS, MAKING MORE DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE TO LETTER B HOLDERS CAN ONLY BE ACHIEVED BY A CORRESPONDING REDUCTION IN PUBLIC OR PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES ELSEWHERE.+

AS REGARDS MR HU'S SECOND SUGGESTION, UNDER WHICH SURRENDER OF LETTERS B WOULD BE LINKED WITH RECLAMATION AND EXCAVATION PROJECTS, MR MCDONALD SAID THAT THAT WOULD BE LIKELY TO BRING IN ONLY SMALL QUANTITIES OF LETTERS B SINCE PREMIUM WOULD IN ANY CASE NORMALLY BE REDUCED CONSIDERABLY BY THE DEDUCTION OF FORMATION COSTS.

ACCEPTANCE OF LETTERS B AGAINST PREMIUM IN RESPECT OF LAND TRANSACTIONS IN THE URBAN AREAS, MR HU'S THIRD SUGGESTION, MIGHT INDEED PROVE ATTRACTIVE TO LETTER B HOLDERS, HE ADDED.

ON THE OTHER HAND, IT WOULD RESULT ONCE AGAIN IN A CORRESPONDING REDUCTION OF THE OPPORTUNITIES OPEN TO OTHER WOULD-BE PURCHASERS AND COULD ATTRACT CONSIDERABLE CRITICISM IN THE PROCESS.

NEVERTHELESS, MR MCDONALD ASSURED MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD UNDER CONSTANT REVIEW THE QUESTION OF REDUCING THE OUTSTANDING BALANCE OF LETTERS B.

COMMENTING ON THE HON CHEUNG YAN-LUNG'S REFERENCE TO THE LANDS DEPARTMENT, ITS DISTRICT LAND OFFICERS, LAND PRODUCTION AND ITS EFFECT ON THE NEW TERRITORIES, AND THE HERITAGE OF RESIDENTS, MR MCDONALD SAID THE INTENTION WAS THAT DISTRICT LAND OFFICERS, LIKE ALL CIVIL SERVANTS, SHOULD BE SENSITIVE TO LOCAL CONDITIONS AND NEEDS AND TAKE THEM INTO ACCOUNT IN THE COURSE OF THEIR WORK.

THIS IS THE AIM OF DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION AND THE LANDS DEPARTMENT INTENDS TO PLAY ITS PART FULLY AND CONSCIENTIOUSLY, HE ADDED.

MR MCDONALD AGREED WITH MR CHEUNG THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO COMPENSATE FOR CONDITIONS NOT REMAINING AS THEY WERE, IF THAT WAS WHAT WAS MEANT BY LOSS OF HERITAGE,

BUT, ON THE OTHER HAND, HE ADDED, A GOOD DEAL WAS DONE APART FROM OFFERING LETTERS B AND CASH COMPENSATION FOR LAND ACQUIRED OR RESUMED, TO ENSURE THAT GENEROUS TERMS WERE OFFERED WHEN VILLAGE REMOVALS BECAME NECESSARY.

+MOREOVER, A PRINCIPAL AIM OF THE NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME IS IN A SENSE TO ENSURE THAT WHAT SPRINGS UP IN PLACE OF WHAT IS 'LOST' OFFERS IN MODERN TERMS AT LEAST AS GOOD AN OPPORTUNITY FOR INDIVIDUAL SELF-FULFILLMENT AND COMMUNITY WELL-BEING, SAID MR MCDONALD.

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