XN000022-1997-01-08 — Page 33

18 -

Ex-gratia zonal compensation for land resumption

Following is a question by the Hon Ngan Kam-chuen and a reply by the Secretary for Planning, Environment and Lands, Mr Bowen Leung, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

Under the ex-gratia zonal compensation system in the New Territories, a uniform rate will be applied across different compensation zones in the resumption of land for a single project. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council :

(a)

(b)

(c)

Answer:

Mr President,

(a)

of the reasons for not applying a uniform rate for land resumption in the Route 3 project, which is a large scale road project stretching across several compensation zones;

given that the Western Railway Project requires the resumption of vast stretches of land in the New Territories, whether the Government will apply a uniform rate across different compensation zones in the resumption of land for this project; if not, why not; and

having regard to the latest amendment to the ex-gratia zonal compensation system classifying "those areas that are affected by essential projects with territory-wide significance" as "Zone A", whether the different compensation zones covered by the Western Corridor Railway Project will be upgraded to "Zone A" as a result of this amendment; if so, of the additional amount of compensation that the Government has to pay for land resumption; if not, why not?

Under the existing ex-gratia zonal compensation system, a uniform rate is generally applied to resumption for a single project which covers different compensation zones. However, as Members were informed in the Finance Committee on 6 December 1996, we consider that there are some projects where an exception to this practice is justified. Examples include long stretches of a road across different compensation zones such as Route 3 where different zonal rates were applied. The Committee on Planning and Land Development has to look at the merits and specific situations of each case.