XN000022-1993-10-13 — Page 16

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1993

BILL SOON ON PROPERTY INHERITANCE: SHA

SUBJECT TO THE ADVICE OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, A NEW BILL TO EXEMPT ALL LAND, OTHER THAN RURAL LAND, FROM THE APPLICATION OF PART II OF THE NEW TERRITORIES ORDINANCE (NTO) WILL SOON BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

ON

SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT IN THE MOTION DEBATE SUCCESSION RIGHTS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY), THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR MICHAEL SUEN, SAID IT WAS INTENDED THAT THE NEW LEGISLATION WOULD HAVE RETROSPECTIVE EFFECT TO REMOVE ANY DOUBT IN EXISTING TITLES BECAUSE OF PREVIOUS TRANSACTIONS RELATING TO INHERITANCE.

"I SHALL BE URGING FOR THE FULL SUPPORT OF HONOURABLE MEMBERS ON THE NEW BILL, HE SAID.

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HE SAID THE ADMINISTRATION WAS WELL AWARE OF THE CONCERN EXPRESSED RECENTLY OVER THIS ISSUE, AND THE GOVERNMENT HAD BEEN ACTIVELY PURSUING MEASURES TO ALLAY PUBLIC ANXIETY AND TO ADDRESS ANY POTENTIAL PROBLEM WHICH PROPERTY OWNERS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES MAY FACE.

MEASURES WITH

"WE HAVE ALREADY IMPLEMENTED ADMINISTRATIVE EFFECT FROM JUNE THIS YEAR TO EXEMPT ALL NEW GRANTS OF LAND IN THE NEW TERRITORIES FROM THE APPLICATION OF THE NTO, EXCEPT FOR RURAL LAND GRANTED TO INDIGENOUS VILLAGERS UNDER THE SMALL HOUSE POLICY OR LAND OWNED BY CUSTOMARY LAND TRUSTS ESTABLISHED BY CLANS AND FAMILIES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES," HE ADDED.

AN INTER-DEPARTMENTAL WORKING GROUP HAS ALSO BEEN SET RECENTLY TO GIVE ACTIVE CONSIDERATION TO EXCLUDING ALL NON-RURAL FROM PART 11 OF THE NTO THROUGH LEGISLATIVE MEANS, MR SUEN SAID.

UP LAND

HE TOLD THE COUNCIL THAT THE GROUP HAD COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THERE WAS NO PROVISION UNDER EXISTING LEGISLATION FOR GOVERNMENT ΤΟ

USE ADMINISTRATIVE MEANS TO GRANT EXEMPTION UNDER THE NTO TO LAND ALREADY ASSIGNED AS UNDIVIDED SHARES TO INDIVIDUAL OWNERS, UNLESS ALL OF THEM JOIN TOGETHER TO APPLY.

MR SUEN SAID CUSTOMS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES, LIKE THOSE EVERYWHERE ELSE, HAVE EVOLVED AND CHANGED OVER THE YEARS. THIS IS NORMAL IN ANY COMMUNITY.

"WE WILL NEED THE WHOLE-HEARTED SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE BEFORE CONTEMPLATING ANY MRASURES TO CHANGE THESE CUSTOMS,

"TONIGHT THIS

COUNCIL HAS COME OUT WITH A LOUD AND CLEAR MESSAGE. I HAVE LISTENED VERY CAREFULLY TO THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY HONOURABLE MEMBERS.

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I HOPE THAT TONIGHT'S DEBATE WILL ENCOURAGE MORE PEOPLE TO COME FORWARD WITH THEIR OWN VIEWS ON THIS VERY IMPORTANT SUBJECT BEFORE THE END OF THE CONSULTATION PERIOD FOR THE GREEN PAPER ON EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN AND MEN," HE SAID.

/MR SUEN