XN000022-1988-11-05 — Page 4

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1988

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LAND REHABILITATION SCHEME MAKES GOOD PROGRESS

*

PILOT

TERRITORIES BACK DESPITE MANY

-

A

THE AGRICULTURAL LAND REHABILITATION SCHEME

GOVERNMENT

DESIGNED PROJECT

TO BRING FALLOW FARM LAND

NEW IN THE TO CULTIVATION

IS MAKING ENCOURAGING HEADWAY OBSTACLES ENCOUNTERED, THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR DR THOMAS (AGRICULTURE) OF THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, YIP, SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).

FRAGMENTATION

OF LAND,

HE SAID THAT THESE OBSTACLES INCLUDED MULTIPLE LAND OWNERSHIP AND UNTRACEABLE LANDOWNERS.

JULY THIS

WITH THE PARTICIPATION OF THE VEGETABLE MARKETING ORGANISATION (VMO), DR YIP SAID, THE SCHEME HAS, SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN

OF FALLOW AGRICULTURAL YEAR, RENTED SOME 22,000 SQUARE METRES FROM LANDOWNERS AT CHEUNG PO IN YUEN LONG AND HOK TAU IN FANLING.

LAND

THE THESE TWO LOCATIONS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED TO HAVE

GREATEST

LAND THE AGRICULTURAL POTENTIAL FOR

REHABILITATION PROGRAMME. IN THESE TWO AREAS, 42 OUT OF

LAND AGRICULTURAL

ARE

LYING FALLOW.

112 HECTARES

OF

DR YIP MADE THE COMMENTS WHEN HE ATTEND THE EXECUTIVE

PAT HEUNG RURAL COMMITTEE MEETING OF THE

COMMITTEE TO BRIEF ITS MEMBERS OF THE PROGRESS OF THE REHABILITATION SCHEME.

HE SAID: "IN THE ENDORSEMENT OF VMO'S PARTICIPATION, THE MILLION AS MARKETING ADVISORY BOARD HAS APPROVED THE PROVISION OF $5

THE NECESSARY EXPENDITURE AN AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT FUND TO MEET ARISING FROM IMPLEMENTING THE PILOT PROJECT.

"APART FROM THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE VMO, THE GOVERNMENT WILL OF THE AGRICULTURAL PROVIDE SUCH NECESSARY INPUT AS THE IMPROVEMENT INFRASTRUCTURE INCLUDING IRRIGATION, DRAINAGE AND FARM ACCESS.

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FOR THE IMPROVEMENT WORK IN 1988-89 IN THE TWO PILOT AREAS, SAID, $700,000 HAD BEEN APPROVED BY THE GOVERNMENT.

10,000 SQUARE METRES OF DR YIP SAID THAT SO FAR RENTED BY THE VMO HAD BEEN SUB-LET TO FARMERS.

HE EXPECTED THAT FURTHER PROGRESS COULD MORE CONTACTS AND NEGOTIATIONS WITH LANDOWNERS FARMERS WERE IN HAND AND MORE LANDOWNERS JOINING THE SCHEME.

HAD

НЕ

FARM LAND

BE ACHIEVED BECAUSE AND POTENTIAL TENANT EXPRESSED INTEREST IN

IN EXPLAINING LAND USES IN RELATION TO THE LAND SCHEME, DR YIP SAID: "THE USAGES ARE

REHABILITATION

ACCORDANCE

STIPULATED IN THE LAND LEASE AGREEMENT AND LANDOWNERS HAVE THE RIGHT TO USE THE LAND IN WITH THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS LAID DOWN IN THE LEASE.

THERE IS