XN000022-1985-11-28 — Page 41

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1985

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+THERE IS A NEED FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO ADJUST THE PRESENT SCHOOL PLACES ALLOCATION POLICY TO MEET THE ACTUAL NEEDS ARISING FROM THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW TOWNS.

+AT THE SAME TIME, IN THE ALLOCATION OF OTHER RESOURCES THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD ENSURE THAT THE VARIOUS LOCAL FACILITIES IN NEW TOWNS FULFIL THE NEEDS ARISING FROM GROWTH IN POPULATION, TO ENABLE THE NEW TOWNS TO INTEGRATE FULLY INTO HONG KONG, KOWLOON AND THE NEW TERRITORIES AS A WHOLE,+ HE SAID.

MR LAU THEN TURNED TO THE RESUMPTION OF LAND AND REMOVAL PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED IN THE COURSE OF NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT.

HE SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR LOOK ING AFTER THE INTERESTS OF AFFECTED RESIDENTS BY GIVING THEM REASONABLE RESUMPTION COMPENSATION AND APPROPRIATE RESETTLEMENT.

HE POINTED OUT THAT THERE HAD BEEN FREQUENT FRICTIONS BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND AFFECTED RESIDENTS IN THE PAST OVER RESUMPTION AND REMOVAL PROBLEMS.

HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD BEEN ABLE TO CARRY OUT MANY LARGE-SCALE CLEARANCES SMOOTHLY IN THE PAST BECAUSE OF THE EFFORTS AND MEDIATION OF NEW TERRITORIES ORGANISATIONS SUCH AS HEUNG YEE KUK AND RURAL COMMITTEES.

HOWEVER, HE SAID, HE WAS DISAPPOINTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD FAILED TO GIVE DUE RECOGNITION TO THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THESE BODIES AND NO MENTION WAS MADE OF THEM IN THE POLICY ADDRESS.

THIS UNGRATEFUL ATTITUDE WOULD DEFINITELY AFFECT THE DEVELOPMENT OF GOOD RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PEOPLE, MR LAU SAID.

HE SUGGESTED THAT GOVERNMENT SHOULD SET UP A COMMITTEE TO REGULARLY REVIEW RESUMPTION AND REMOVAL POLICIES,

THE THIRD AREA MR LAU COMMENTED ON WAS THE NEED TO IMPROVE VARIOUS FACILITIES IN AGRICULTURAL VILLAGES CLOSE TO NEW TOWNS.

+THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD STEP UP LOCAL PUBLIC WORKS IN THE VILLAGES WITH A VIEW TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF VILLAGERS AND MATCHING THEM WITH DEVELOPMENT OF NEW TOWNS, HE SAID,

HE ALSO DREW ATTENTION TO THE LACK OF WATER SUPPLY FOR AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES AND ASKED THE GOVERNMENT TO APPOINT A CO-ORDINATING DEPARTMENT TO WORK OUT IMPROVEMENT PLANS.

ON NOISE POLLUTION IN THE NEW TOWNS, MR LAU CALLED FOR EARLY STEPS BY THE GOVERNMENT TO ENACT LEGISLATION FOR COMPREHENSIVE CONTROL IN THE WHOLE TERRITORY AND THE SETTING UP OF A SPECIAL EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT TO ENSURE THE EFFECTIVE ENFORCEMENT OF THE RELEVANT LEGISLATION.

/LASTLY, MR LAU