XN000022-1982-12-10 — Page 4

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1982

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IN ADDITION, THE SMALL HOUSE POLICY IS ALSO HINDERED BY THE ABSENCE OF A POSITIVE LAND POLICY WHICH HAS LED TO UNPLANNED DEVELOPMENT OF VILLAGE HOUSES AND THE ABSENCE OF BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE FACILITIES LIKE SEWERAGE, DRAINAGE AND ROADS WITHIN VILLAGE ENVIRONS.+

A WORKING PARTY, COMPRISING HEUNG YEE KUK MEMBERS AND STAFF OF THE FORMER NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, WAS FORMED IN SEPTEMBER 1980. THE WORKING PARTY RECOMMENDED TO GOVERNMENT THE RESUMPTION OF PRIVATE AGRICULTURAL LAND FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING VILLAGE EXPANSION AREAS IN WHICH VILLAGERS COULD BUILD SMALL HOUSES, AFTER PAYING THE COST OF PURCHASING, FORMING AND SERVICING THE LAND.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT TO MEET THE DEMAND OF VILLAGE HOUSING AND TO ENSURE MORE ORDERLY AND PLANNED DEVELOPMENT SO THAT BUILDING DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE VILLAGE WAS COMPATIBLE WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SURROUNDING AREAS, ACQUISITION OF PRIVATE LAND WITHIN VILLAGE ENVIRONS WAS NECESSARY.

THE COST INCURRED BY THE GOVERNMENT IN THE ACQUISITION AND SERVICING OF THE LAND, HE SAID, WOULD BE RECOVERED FROM THE PREMIUM CHARGEABLE FOR SMALL HOUSE GRANTS.

LAND OWNERS WILL BE OFFERED LAND EXCHANGE ENTITLEMENTS AND/OR CASH COMPENSATION, WHILE OTHER PEOPLE AFFECTED WILL BE OFFERED PUBLIC OR TEMPORARY HOUSING IN ACCORDANCE WITH THEIR ELIGIBILITY,

LAND RESUMPTION AT TUEN MUN ***

THE GOVERNMENT IS TO RESUME ABOUT 5 330 SQUARE METRES OF PRIVATE LAND IN TUEN MUN NEW TOWN NEAR KEI LUN WAT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A STUDENT NURSES TRAINING SCHOOL WAS ANNOUNCED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).

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A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT IN ORDER TO COPE WITH THE INCREASED DEMAND FOR QUALIFIED NURSES RESULTING FROM THE GENERAL EXPANSION OF MEDICAL SERVICES IN HONG KONG, IT WAS NECESSARY TO EXPAND THE SCOPE OF THE TUEN MUN HOSPITAL AND QUARTERS PROJECT TO INCLUDE THE TRAINING SCHOOL WHICH WOULD ACCOMMODATE 400 NURSING STUDENTS.

SOME 32 TEMPORARY STRUCTURES USED FOR DOMESTIC PURPOSES AND 103 OTHER TEMPORARY STRUCTURES, INCLUDING A WORKSHOP, WILL HAVE TO BE CLEARED.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT LAND OWNERS WOULD BE OFFERED LAND EXCHANGE ENTITLEMENTS AND/OR CASH COMPENSATION, WHILE OTHER PEOPLE AFFECTED WOULD BE OFFERED PUBLIC OR TEMPORARY HOUSING IN ACCORDANCE WITH THEIR ELIGIBILITY,