XN000022-1982-10-28 — Page 15

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1982

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NT LANDOWNERS RIGHTS SUPPORTED

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THE HON BENTON CHEUNG CALLED FOR A +FAIR AND GENEROUS+ ARRANGEMENT IN LAND RESUMPTION SO THAT NEW TERRITORIES LANDOWNERS WILL NOT BE DENIED THEIR SHARE OF PROSPERITY.

MR CHEUNG WAS SPEAKING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON THE PROPOSED ABOLITION OF THE LETTER B SYSTEM WHICH IS CURRENTLY UNDER DISCUSSION BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE HEUNG YEE KUK.

HE WARNED THAT AN UNSATISFACTORY SETTLEMENT OF THIS ISSUE COULD CREATE RESISTANCE AMONG INDIVIDUAL LANDOWNERS, AS WELL AS RESENTMENT AND ALIENATION TOWARDS THE AUTHORITIES.

HE RECALLED THAT IN THE 1950'S, ANCESTRAL LANDS WERE RESUMED AT AGRICULTURAL PRICES THROUGH THE CROWN LANDS RESUMPTION ORDINANCE AND THEN RESOLD FOR BUILDING DEVELOPMENT AT SUBSTANTIALLY HIGHER PRICES.

DURING THE 1960'S, IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LAND EXCHANGE ENTITLEMENTS SYSTEM INTRODUCED A MORE EQUITABLE PROCESS OF DEVELOPMENT+.

+BUT MAY I PUT IT TO THIS COUNCIL THAT THE LANDOWNERS WHO WERE THE ORIGINAL HOLDERS OF LETTERS B WERE ORDINARY PEOPLE WHO HAD THE GIFT OF A ROCKET TO THE MOON THRUST UPON THEM, ONLY TO FIND THEY LACKED THE EXPERTISE AND RESOURCES TO OPERATE IT WITHOUT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, HE SAID.

MR CHEUNG URGED THE GOVERNMENT, IN DISCUSSING THE FUTURE OF LETTERS B, TO TAKE THE VIEWS OF THE PEOPLE FULLY INTO ACCOUNT, TO RECONCILE DIFFERENCES, AND TO FACE THE FUTURE WITH CONFIDENCE.

+ALL THAT REMAINS TO BE DECIDED IS THE MUTUALLY AGREED FORMULA BY WHICH THESE AIMS CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED, HE ADDED.

MR CHEUNG ALSO TOUCHED ON THE RECENT PROPOSAL OF ENHANCED PREMIA TO BE CHARGED FOR LAND USE UNDER THE GUISE OF SHORT TERM WAIVERS.

+QUITE APART FROM THE LEGAL AND MORAL ARGUMENTS PUT FORWARD BY NT LANDOWNERS, THE POSSIBLE ECONOMIC EFFECTS OF THIS UNTIMELY PROPOSAL SHOULD BE GIVEN WEIGHTY CONSIDERATION, HE ADDED.

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