XN000022-1986-08-13 — Page 10

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 13, 1986

+ HOWEVER, IT IS RECOGNISED THAT THERE MAY BE CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH WILL PREVENT THE LDC FROM ACQUIRING CERTAIN PROPERTIES,+ MR CHAU SAID.

+THIS MAY BE DUE TO THE ABSENCE OF THE OWNERS OR BECAUSE A SETTLEMENT CANNOT BE REACHED THROUGH NEGOTIATION.+

IN THE LATTER CASE, INDEPENDENT PANELS MAY BE FORMED TO ENSURE THAT OFFERS MADE TO OWNERS BY THE LDC WERE REASONABLE.

THE GOVERNMENT WOULD BE WILLING TO CONSIDER TAKING ACTION TO RESUME OUTSTANDING PROPERTIES ONLY WITH ASSURANCE FROM THE PANEL THAT THE LDC HAD MADE GENUINE EFFORTS TO PURCHASE THE PROPERTIES CONCERNED.

ALL CASES INVOLVING RESUMPTION WOULD BE CONSIDERED BY THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL, AND, EVEN AFTER RESUMPTION ACTION HAD BEEN TAKEN, AN OWNER WOULD STILL HAVE A RIGHT TO APPEAL TO THE LANDS TRIBUNAL FOR DETERMINATION OF COMPENSATION UNDER THE RESUMPTION ORDINANCE.

TURNING TO HOUSING, HE SAID OFFERS MADE TO OWNER OCCUPIERS BY THE LDC SHOULD BE SUFFICIENT TO ENABLE THEM TO PURCHASE MODERN PROPERTY OF SIMILAR SIZE AND IN THE SAME GENERAL AREA AS THEIR ORIGINAL PREMISES.

+TENANTS IN THE AREAS REQUIRING DEVELOPMENT ARE EXPECTED TO BE PRIMARILY THOSE LEAST ABLE TO PROVIDE REPLACEMENT ACCOMMODATION FOR THEMSELVES,+ HE SAID.

+THUS, WHILE THESE PEOPLE WOULD BE OFFERED CASH COMPENSATION, IT IS EXPECTED THAT A SUBSTANTIAL MAJORITY WILL REQUIRE REHOUSING.+

AFTER CONSIDERABLE INVESTIGATION IT WAS CONSIDERED THAT THERE WERE TWO OPTIONS:

(A) TO MAKE USE OF DECANTING ACCOMMODATION PROVIDED BY

AN EXISTING ORGANISATION SUCH AS THE HOUSING SOCIETY. THIS HAD ALREADY BEEN CONSIDERED BY THE SOCIETY WHICH HAD AGREED IN PRINCIPLE THAT THIS WOULD BE POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVELY

}

(B) DECANTING ACCOMMODATION COULD BE PROVIDED AS PART

OF THE DEVELOPMENT. THIS MEANT THAT IN LARGE PROJECTS ACCOMMODATION PROVIDED IN EARLY STAGES COULD BE USED TO HOUSE THOSE CLEARED IN LATER STAGES OF THE DEVELOPMENT.

+ IT SHOULD BE STRESSED THAT HOUSING AUTHORITY PROPERTY SHOULD NOT BE USED FOR DECANTATION PURPOSES,+ MR CHAU SAID.

ON PROFIT SHARING, MR CHAU SAID A PRIME OBJECTIVE OF THE CORPORATION WAS TO ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION BY SMALL OWNERS IN THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS.

/+TO THIS

Page 10Page 11