XN000022-1992-01-15 — Page 3

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 1992

LEGISLATION TO PROVIDE FOR NEW AND MODERN PLANNING REGIME

THE GOVERNMENT WILL ENSURE THAT THE NEW PLANNING LEGISLATION WOULD STRIKE A BALANCE AND PUT IN PLACE A NEW AND MODERN PLANNING REGIME WHICH WILL GUIDE THE DEVELOPMENT OF HONG KONG IN THE YEARS AHEAD,

THE SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS, MR GRAHAM BARNES, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

REVIEW OF

SPEAKING IN THE MOTION DEBATE ON THE COMPREHENSIVE TOWN FLANNING ORDINANCE, MR BARNES SAID THE GOVERNMENT WOULD FINALISE PROPOSALS

PLANNING IN THE CONSULTATION DOCUMENT AND TO PREPARE A NEW

YEAR'S BILL FOR INTRODUCTION INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN ABOUT A TIME.

BE

"THE ADMINISTRATION IS NOW STUDYING THE 65 SUBMISSIONS RECEIVED. VIEWS OF MEMBERS EXPRESSED IN THE DEBATE WILL CERTAINLY TAKEN INTO CAREFUL CONSIDERATION, HE SAID.

11

MR BARNES SAID THE PROPOSED PLANNING CERTIFICATE SYSTEM WAS THE MOST MISUNDERSTOOD PART OF THE DOCUMENT AND HAD BEEN SEEN AS CREATING

ΤΟ AND ADDITIONAL WORK TO DEVELOPERS, CAUSING DELAY

THE UNCERTAINTY DEVELOPMENT PROCESS.

"THE BASIC PURPOSE OF THE PLANNING CERTIFICATE SYSTEM 19 TO

THE ENABLE

PLANNING AUTHORITY TO DEAL DIRECTLY

THE WITH

PLANNING ASPECTS OF BUILDING WORKS RATHER THAN INDIRECTLY THROUGH THE BUILDING ORDINANCE AS AT PRESENT.

"THE PLANNING CERTIFICATE SIMPLY FACILITATES REDISTRIBUTION OF FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES BETWEEN THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE AND THE PLANNING ORDINANCE TO BRING ABOUT CLEARER LEGISLATIVE PURPOSE, AUTHORITY AND PROCEDURES.

"IT WILL NOT BE USED TO INTRODUCE ADDITIONAL CONTROLS OR IMPOSE WOULD IT EXTRA REQUIREMENTS OVER AND ABOVE THE EXISTING SYSTEM, NOR BRING ABOUT ANY DELAY TO THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS," HE SAID.

MR BARNES SAID THE GOVERNMENT PROPOSED IN THE CONSULATIVE AND TO DOCUMENT TO STREAMLINE THE PROCEDURES FOR HEARING OBJECTIONS

PLAN-MAKING IMPOSE STATUTORY TIME LIMITS ON THE VARIOUS STAGES OF THE PROCESS.

"WE ARE

NOW

TO

IF

ANY

THE

CONSIDERING THIS ISSUE FURTHER

SEB FURTHER SAFEGUARDS AGAINST THIS PRACTICE COULD BE MADE TO REDUCE POSSIBILITY OF ABUSE," HE SAID.

MR BARNES SAID SOME CONCERN HAD BEEN EXPRESSED ON THE METHOD OF

THE AMORTISATION PERIOD AND THE NEED FOR A DETERMINING

COMPREHENSIVE RELOCATION STRATEGY FOR THE DISPLACED NON-CONFIRMING USES.

/"THE ADMINISTRATION