XN000022-1987-10-28 — Page 7

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1987

LDC TO IMPROVE URBAN HOUSING, ENVIRONMENT

THE MAIN OBJECTIVE OF THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION IS ΤΟ IMPROVE THE STANDARD OF HOUSING AND OF THE ENVIRONMENT IN URBAN ARBAS BY UNDERTAKING AND ENCOURAGING RRDEVELOPMENT IN AREAS MOST IN NEED OF RENEWAL.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS, THE HON ALISTAIR ASPREY, DURING THE SECOND READING OF THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION BILL 1987 IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

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MR ASPREY SAID THAT ALTHOUGH REDEVELOPMENT HAD ACCOUNTED FOR THAN 50 PER CENT OF

OF THE NEW RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL ACCOMMODATION IN RECENT YEARS, THERE REMAINED MANY AREAS WHICH WERE BADLY IN NEED OF RENEWAL AREAS OF OLD, POORLY MAINTAINED BUILDINGS AND HIGH POPULATION DENSITIES, INADEQUATELY PROVIDED WITH OPEN SPACE AND OTHER FACILITIES.

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"THE MAJOR OBSTACLE TO PRIVATE REDEVELOPMENT OF THESE AREAS IS THE DIFFICULTY OF SITE ASSEMBLY.

"IT IS THIS OBSTACLE WHICH THE PRESENT BILL Ig DESIGNED TO OVERCOME BY THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A STATUTORY BODY DEDICATED TO URBAN RENEWAL, AND WITH THE POWERS TO PREPARE AND IMPLEMENT URBAN REDEVELOPMENT SCHEMES, INCLUDING THE POWERS TO ACQUIRE, PLAN, DEVELOP AND MANAGE PROPERTY EITHER ON ITS OWN OR IN ASSOCIATION WITH OTHERS, MR ASPREY SAID.

HE SAID THAT THE BILL PROVIDED FOR PROCEDURES WHICH HAD BEEN DESIGNED TO ENSURE THAT THE PROCESS OF SITE ASSEMBLY COULD BE COMPLETED WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME, AND THAT AT THE SAME TIME OWNERS AND RESIDENTS OF PROPERTY WITHIN A PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT SCHEME WERE ACCORDED FAIR AND EQUITABLE TREATMENT.

MR ASPREY ADDED THAT WITHIN URBAN RENEWAL AREAS TO BE DESIGNATED BY THE GOVERNMENT, THE CORPORATION WOULD DRAW UP SCHEMES. FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT OF SPECIFIC SITES.

HE SAID: "WHERE REDEVELOPMENT CAN BE ACHIEVED WITHOUT RECOURSE TO RESUMPTION OF PRIVATE LAND, THE CORPORATION MAY DO SO IN THE SAME WAY AS ANY OTHER PRIVATE DEVELOPER.

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"WHERE THE CORPORATION CONSIDERS THAT RESUMPTION MAY NECESSARY, IT MUST PREPARE A PLAN OF THE SCHEME, AND SET OUT HOW IT PROPOSES TO IMPLEMENT THE SCHEME, INCLUDING ITS ON THE OPEN MARKET THE PRIVATE PROPERTY COMPENSATION AND REHOUSING THE REDEVELOPMENT MAY DISPLACE,"

TENANTS

PLANS FOR ACQUIRING INVOLVED, AND FOR

AND RESIDENTS

WHOM

THE BILL