XN000022-1987-12-09 — Page 15

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1987

LDC PROCEDURE SIMPLIFICATION URGED

LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOR THE HON F.K. HU SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT THE PROCEDURAL CONTROL FOR THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION'S DEVELOPMENT SCHEME SHOULD BE SIMPLIFIED AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE SO AS ΤΟ GIVE MORE AUTONOMY AND FLEXIBILITY TO THE CORPORATION AND SHORTEN TIME FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF REDEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME.

MR

HU SAID THIS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN SUPPORT OF LAND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION BILL 1987.

THE

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THIS WAS ONE OF THE POINTS PUT FORWARD BY THE OMELCO LANDS AND WORKS PANEL AND A LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AD HOC GROUP STUDYING THE BILL AFTER A THOROUGH STUDY OF THE BILL. MR HU IS THE CONVENER OF BOTH THE PANEL AND THE AD HOC GROUP.

MR HU MOVED A COMMITTER STAGE AMENDMENT TO THE BILL PURPOSE OF SIMPLIFYING THE PROCEDURE LEADING TO RESUMPTION WHERE REDEVELOPMENT REQUIRED NO CHANGE IN LAND USE.

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MR HU SAID THAT SUCCESS OF THE LDC DEPENDED ON THE SUPPORT INVOLVEMENT OF PRIVATE DEVELOPERS WHO WOULD BE GREATLY ENCOURAGED WORK WITH LDC IF THE TIME REQUIRED FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME COULD BE REDUCED.

HE SAID THE AD HOC GROUP ALSO FELT THAT THE CONCEPT OF DESIGNATING URBAN RENEWAL AREAS (URA) SHOULD BE ABANDONED AS THERE WOULD BE SOME PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT ON THE PEOPLE LIVING IN THE

AREA, THEREBY CREATING UNCERTAINTIES FOR OWNERS, TENANTS AND DEVELOPERS, AFFECTING LAND PRICES AND SALE OF PROPERTY.

HE SAID THE CONCEPT COULD CAUSE EITHER FALSE HOPE AND OVER EXPECTATION OR BAD FEELING AMONG PEOPLE DEPENDING ON THE SITE. THE AREA WOULD IN EFFECT BE FROZEN AND NO REDEVELOPMENT BY PRIVATE SECTOR WOULD BE CARRIED OUT.

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IT WOULD MULTIPLY THE SLUM PROBLEM SINCE PEOPLE WERE BOUND BECOME SLACK IN THE PROPER MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF BUILDINGS WITHIN AN URA. IT WOULD ALSO RESTRICT THE SCOPE OF LDC'S WORK SINCE THE BILL PRECLUDED THE LDC FROM DEALING WITH AREAS OUTSIDE THE URA.

MR HU MOVED ANOTHER COMMITTEE STAGE AMENDMENT UNDER WHICH PART IV OF THE BILL ON THE DESIGNATION OF URBAN RENEWAL AREA WOULD BE DELETED.

ANOTHER POINT PUT FORWARD BY THE AD HOC GROUP AND ACCEPTED BY THE GOVERNMENT WAS THAT THERE SHOULD BE PROVISIONS TO ENSURE ADEQUATE PROTECTION FOR THE AFFECTED TENANTS BY WAY OF REHOUSING AND/OR CASH COMPENSATION. THE CORPORATION SHOULD OFFER SATISFACTORY OPTIONS, INCLUDING FLAT FOR FLAT, CASH COMPENSATION AND COMBINATION OF OPTIONS TO SMALL PROPERTY OWNERS.

HOWEVER THE