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團表代英訪局議鄉界新

NEW TERRITORIES HEUNG YEE KUK'S

DELEGATION TO UNITED KINGDOM

to Branch Offices of the New Territories Administration.

3. Under the present circumstances, only 'a new system of co- operation between the Government and the people is suita- ble for the New Territories. The N.T. Heung Yee Kuk should enjoy the status and right of participating in the formula- tion and revision of laws and policies concerning the N.T. and be vested with powers comparable to those of the Urban Council over the Urban Services Department. The Rural Com- mittees should also enjoy the status and right of partici- pating in the meetings of their local administration.

4. The N.T. Heung Yee Kuk is the only statutory body representing

the whole N.T. population. Its status and powers are similar to those that of a regional Council. The Rural Committees are the only representatives of the people in their districts, with their chairmen constituting the basic membership of the N.T. Heung Yee Kuk.

III DEFINING THE TRADITIONAL RIGHTS OF THE.N.T. VILLAGERS

1. According to the provisions of the Lease of N.T the

Hong Kong Government cannot carry out expropriation or expulsion of the indigenous villagers of the N.T. whose pro- perties should be safeguarded.

2. Traditional customs as well as ancestral halls temples,

monasteries, cemeteries and historical buildings should be repected and preserved by the Hong Kong Government.

3. Any laws and policies detrimental to the traditional rights

of the A.T. villagers eg. Cap. 124, Crown Lands Resumption Ordinance (enacted in 1900), Block Crown Lease (enacted in 1905), Cap. 97, New Territories Ordinance (enacted in 1910), Cap. 131, Town Planning Ordinance (enacted in 1939), Cap. 126, Crown Rights (Reentry and Vesting Remedies) Ordinance (recised in 1953), Cap. 1097, N.T. Ordinance (enacted in 1959), and all land policies currently enforced in the N.T. - should be revised within a mutually agreed time limit. Any dis- crepancy between current policies and laws should be amended accordingly so that the former will be bound by the latter to ensure that the people are protected by legislation.

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