XN000022-1985-11-27 — Page 13

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1985

ON THE FINANCING OF THE COUNCIL, MR CHEUNG STRESSED THAT IT WOULD REQUIRE SUFFICIENT REVENUE TO SUPPORT ITS VARIOUS ACTIVITIES.

HE NOTED THAT THE MAIN SOURCE OF THIS REVENUE WOULD BE THE RATES COLLECTED IN THE REGIONAL COUNCIL AREA AND URGED THAT IF THERE WERE ANY INCREASE IN THE RATES NEXT YEAR, THE REVENUE SO GENERATED SHOULD BE ALLOCATED TO THE COUNCIL TO ENABLE IT TO FULFIL ITS RESPONSIBILITIES.

HOWEVER, HE POINTED OUT THAT RATES ALONE WAS MOST UNLIKELY TO BE SUFFICIENT TO FINANCE THE 428 CAPITAL WORKS PROJECTS WHICH THE COUNCIL HAD PLANNED.

HE SAID HE FELT OBLIGED TO SOLICIT AN UNDERSTANDING ON THE PART OF THE GOVERNMENT TO CONTINUE SHARING THE HEAVY FINANCIAL BURDEN ON CAPITAL WORKS UNTIL THE REGIONAL COUNCIL WAS IN A POSITION TO TAKE OVER.

MR CHEUNG EXPRESSED DISAPPOINTMENT AT THE RESULT OF THE RECENT REGISTRATION FOR THE URBAN COUNCIL AND REGIONAL COUNCIL ELECTIONS NEXT YEAR.

HE SUGGESTED THAT WE SHOULD NOT OVERLOOK THE POSSIBILITY OF EXTENDING THE FRANCHISE TO THOSE WO HAD REACHED THE AGE OF 18 WHEN REVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONING OF THE REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT TOOK PLACE IN DUE COURSE.

+ THEY ARE A GROUP THAT WE HAVE PROVIDED WITH BETTER EDUCATION.

+ON THE IR PART THEY HAVE DEMONSTRATED INCREASING SOCIAL AND POLITICAL CONSCIOUSNESS.

+ I THINK THEY DESERVE THE ENTRUSTMENT OF ELECTORAL RIGHTS,+ HE SAID.

MR CHEUNG CALLED FOR A REVIEW OF THE COMPENSATION SCHEME FOR LAND RESUMPTION.

HE RECOUNTED THE DIFFICULTIES AND PROBLEMS FACED BY LOCAL AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY DURING RAPID DEVELOPMENTS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES IN RECENT YEARS AND SAID THE EXISTING LAND COMPENSATION POLICY WAS UNFAIR.

HE ALSO SUGGESTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD ESTABLISH A POLICY TO ENCOURAGE AND TO SUPPORT THE CULTIVATION OF WASTED ARABLE LAND BY RESITING DISPLACED FARMERS TO FALLOW LAND LEASED BY THE GOVERNMENT, WITH RENTAL SUBSIDIES WHERE NECESSARY.

+ THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD AT THE SAME TIME EXTEND ITS WORK IN INTRODUCING NEW AND IMPROVED PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES, EQUIPMENT AND METHODS, SUPPORTED BY INCREASED AGRICULTURAL LOANS AND MARKETING FACILITIES IN ORDER TO MAKE FARMING ECONOMICALLY VIABLE, HE SAID.

/MR CHEUNG