TNAG-0607-FCO40-755-Monitoring-progress-made-on-planning-papers-on-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 139

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75.

The principal questions which the developments in the New

Territories have thro a up are:

76.

a/ What forms administration and arrangements for local

consultation in the urbanised areas should take?

b/ What should be the standard of amenities provided in the

urbanised areas?

c/ Should arrangements for compensation for land resumption be

reviewed?

With regard to the methods and rates of compensation

for resumption of agricultural land I have taken note of the growing concern

expressed in the New Territories and by the Heung Yee Kuk and of recent

proposals made for a new approach. Your Government agrees that the time

is ripe for fresh thinking and the Secretary for the New Territories will

be speaking on this subject later in the debate.

77.

With regard to the undeveloped countryside: on the one hand, the

interests of the original inhabitants must be protected; and on the other,

the areas muust be used, developed and preserved for recreation and tourism.

Development and preservation are the responsibility of the Country Parks

Authority and its management stoff, and the interest of the inhabitants

are the concern of the District Officers in close collaboration with

Village Representatives and fural Committees.

78.

I should add that with the large numbers of visitors at week-ends

communications and electricity in the remoter areas have become an urgent

problem. I am glad to say that thanks to the efforts of the Telephone Company

and China Light and Power very satisfactory progress has been made with

the extension of telephones and electricity, and virtually all communities

are either now covered, or very shortly will be.

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