XN000022-1986-11-14 — Page 10

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1986

THIS WAS PARTLY DUE TO A REALISATION THAT GOVERNMENT EFFORTS IN THE FIELD OF URBAN RENEWAL HAD NOT BEEN PARTICULARLY SUCCESSFUL AND IT WAS CONSIDERED PREFERABLE FOR THE GOVERNMENT'S ROLE TO BE RESTRICTED AS FAR AS POSSIBLE.

WITH THESE ASSUMPTIONS, AND FOLLOWING FURTHER STUDY, IT BECAME CLEAR THAT THE FORMATION OF AN INDEPENDENT AGENCY WOULD HAVE TO BE PROMOTED INITIALLY WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF GOVERNMENT FUNDS.

+ IN THE LONG RUN, THE PRIVATE SECTOR SHOULD BECOME MORE DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN ALL ASPECTS OF THE LDC'S ACTIVITIES, MR WONG SAID.

HE SAID ACCORDING TO THE STEERING GROUP'S SUBMISSION TO THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL, THE OBJECTIVES OF THE LDC WOULD BE TO

IMPROVE THE QUALITY AND ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF DEVELOPMENT BY ASSEMBLING LARGER SITES:

*

*

ENSURE EQUITABLE TREATMENT OF TENANTS AFFECTED;

* PROVIDE IMPROVED COMMUNITY FACILITIES, INCLUDING BETTER

TRAFFIC CIRCULATION #

*

ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION OF LAND OWNERS IN THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS;

* SPEED UP PRIVATE SECTOR DEVELOPMENT IN SELECTED AREAS; AND

* MINIMISE THE NEED FOR DIRECT GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES AND THE

APPLICATION OF COMPULSORY ACQUISITION POWERS.

TO ACHIEVE THESE OBJECTIVES, MR WONG SAID, THE LDC WOULD HAVE TO BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH THE FOLLOWING ISSUES:-

*

*

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ACQUISITION: THE LDC WOULD BE EXPECTED TO NEGOTIATE WITH EXISTING PROPERTY OWNERS ON THE ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY WITHIN AREAS IDENTIFIED TO BE IN NEED OF REDEVELOPMENT. IT WOULD BE EXPECTED TO ACQUIRE A MAJORITY OF THE PROPERTIES WITHIN AN AREA TO BE REDEVELOPED THROUGH NEGOTIATIONS.

HOUSING: OFFERS MADE TO OWNER OCCUPIERS SHOULD BE SUFFICIENT TO ENABLE THEM TO PURCHASE A MODERN PROPERTY OF SIMILAR SIZE AND IN THE SAME GENERAL AREA AS THEIR ORIGINAL PREMISES.

AL DEVELOPMENT:

IT..

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