XN000022-1993-10-13 — Page 24

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1993

"IN

PREPARING OUTLINE ZONING PLANS TO REPLACE THE DEVELOPMENT PERMISSION AREA PLANS, THE GOVERNMENT WILL INDEED TAKE ACCOUNT OF DEMAND FOR HOUSING, AS WELL AS THE PROVISION OF INFRASTRUCTURE, ACCESSIBILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL, TRAFFIC AND OTHER PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS, IN ZONING LAND FOR RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT.

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HE SAID THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT RECEIVED 572 PLANNING APPLICATIONS FOR RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS BETWEEN AUGUST 1990 AND SEPTEMBER 1993 IN AREAS COVERED BY INTERIM DEVELOPMENT PERMISSION AREA PLANS AND DEVELOPMENT PERMISSION AREA PLANS.

MOST OF THE APPLICATIONS WERE FOR SMALL HOUSE DEVELOPMENT INVOLVING SOME TWO MILLION SQUARE METRES OF GROSS FLOOR AREA, HE SAID.

MR EASON NOTED THAT AT THE BEGINNING OF SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR, 275 OUT OF THE 572 APPLICATIONS WERE APPROVED, INVOLVING A TOTAL GROSS FLOOR AREA OF 124,380 SQUARE METRES.

THERE WERE 247 REJECTED APPLICATIONS AND 50 WITHDRAWN, HE SAID.

MEASURES TO CURB CRIMES AGAINST TENANTS

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THE POLICE, WITH EFFECT FROM JANUARY 1. NEXT YEAR, WILL MAINTAIN SEPARATE STATISTICS FOR OFFENCES AGAINST LANDLORD AND TENANTS (CONSOLIDATION) ORDINANCE.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR ALISTAIR ASPREY, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON STEVEN POON KWOK-LIM IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

TO PREVENT SUCH CRIMES AND TO PROTECT THE TENANTS CONCERNED, PAMPHLETS ARE DISTRIBUTED THROUGH DISTRICT OFFICES AND RATING AND VALUATION DEPARTMENT OFFICES TO HIGHLIGHT THE FACT THAT то INTERFERE WITH A TENANT'S RIGHT TO REMAIN IN OCCUPATION OF RENTED PREMISES ARE CRIMINAL OFFENCES WHICH ARE LIABLE TO HEAVY PENALTIES.

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MR ASPREY SAID: "ON RECEIVING COMPLAINTS OF CRIMINAL OFFENCES, INCLUDING THOSE ARISING FORM LANDLORD TENANT DISPUTES OR REPOSSESSION OF PREMISES, THE POLICE WILL CONDUCT THE NECESSARY INVESTIGATIONS.

WILL BE BROUGHT AGAINST THOSE

WHERE APPROPRIATE, CHARGES HAVING COMMITTED CRIMINAL OFFENCES.

HE SAID THE POLICE ALSO HAD CLOSE LIAISON WITH THE RATING AND VALUATION DEPARTMENT AND HAD ESTABLISHED PROCEDURES ΤΟ DEAL WITH TENANCY DISPUTE MATTERS.

"IF THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF ANY OFFENCE, THE POLICE WILL REFER THE CASE TO THE RATING AND VALUATION DEPARTMENT TO SETTLE THE DISPUTE BY MEDIATION", ASPRAY ADDED.

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