XN000022-1992-06-01 — Page 8

MONDAY, JUNE 1, 1992

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PLANNING PROCESS FOR NT EXPLAINED

OF

THE EXTENSION OF THE STATUTORY PLANNING PROCESS INTO PARTS THE NEW TERRITORIES OUTSIDE NEW TOWNS IS INTENDED AS A MEANS TO GUIDE AND PERMIT ACCEPTABLE DEVELOPMENT.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS, MR TONY EASON, TONIGHT (MONDAY) AT A DINNER MEETING OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF NEW TERRITORIES.

ALTHOUGH IMPRESSION ON THE SCHEME SO FAR MIGHT BE THAT CONTROL AND PREVENTION WAS THE MAIN OBJECTIVE, MR EASON WAS CONFIDENT THAT THE OPPORTUNITIES AND THE GREATER CERTAINTY THE SCHEME WOULD PROVIDE WOULD BE WELCOME BY WOULD-BE DEVELOPERS WHEN THEY BECAME MORE FAMILIAR WITH IT.

IMPLEMENTING

HE SAID THE MOST DIFFICULT PROBLEM ENCOUNTERED IN SMALL HOUSE POLICY WAS THAT DEMAND FOR VILLAGE HOUSE SITES OFTEN EXCEEDED THE AMOUNT OF LAND AVAILABLE.

THE

THAT THERE IS A DEMAND FOR OVER 5,000 MORE OF WHICH ONLY ABOUT 1,600 CAN BE MET BY BUILDING LICENCES.

IT IS ESTIMATED

HOUSES

—

THE REMAINDER WILL REQUIRE SUITABLE SITES ON GOVERNMENT LAND TO BE IDENTIFIED.

ONE OF THE WAYS OF EASING THE LAND SUPPLY PROBLEM WAS THE INTRODUCTION OF THE DEVELOPMENT PERMISSION AREA PLAN SCHEME IN 1981 UNDER WHICH LAND WITHIN VILLAGES COULD BE RESUMED TO PROVIDE VILLAGE EXPANSION AREAS.

MR EASON SAID THIS APPROACH HAD TWO SIGNIFICANT ADVANTAGES.

FIRST, THE EXPANSION AREAS OBVIOUSLY INCREASE THE SUPPLY OF LAND AVAILABLE FOR SMALL HOUSE GRANTS TO INDIGENOUS VILLAGERS.

SECOND, THE RESUMPTION OF LAND IN VILLAGE AREAS MEANS LARGER SITES CAN BE ASSEMBLED THAN WOULD BE THE CASE IF ONLY ISOLATED GOVERNMENT LAND SITES WERE MADE AVAILABLE.

"THIS ALLOWS VILLAGE EXPANSION AREAS TO BE PLANNED AND INTERNAL ROADS AND PATHS, DRAINAGE AND UTILITIES TO BE PROVIDED.

"IT ALSO MEANS A SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT IN CONDITIONS AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN VILLAGES, HE SAID.

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