C.S. 20A (Rev.) 2600027
From the Governor, Hong Kong
CONFIDENTIAL:
SAVING TELEGRAM
To the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
Repeated to:-
Repeated to:-
Ry Bun wh
No. 138
No.
3)
D No In
Date 10th September, 1976
NT:5:5204: C II
My Reference
Your Reference..
"The 14/0
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HKX030
N.T. Heung Yee Kuk Petition addressed to Lord Goronwy-Roberts
Higginson's letter 3CR 587/57 V of 18th August to Milton promised a draft reply to the Heung Yee Kuk's recent letter addressed to Lord Goronwy-Roberts would be forwarded.
2.
The Secretary for the New Territories in his letter to Stewart of 17th August has given the background to the letter from the Heung Yee Kuk. As for the content of the letter this is mainly an expanded version of the earlier part of the Kuk's petition to Lord Goronwy-koberts dated 25th February 1975, forwarded with the Governor's Saving Telegram No. 97 of 28th April 1975, which also explains the background to New Territories land acquisition and compensation policies. Other background information is contained in a memorandum considered by Executive Council on 18th May 1976 (XCC(76)18 Acquisition' and o Clearance of land). KK 365/4,
Towever, 15 Exc. i
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WKK 36.5/4, Folio 4
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3.
The same issues about the acquisition of private land in the New Territories for development purposes are repeated' in this new ve letter. The historical narration of various land policies adopted over the years and modifications which have been introduced is obviously slanted. The fact is that within the boundaries of New Territories developing towns, a value of about 50,000 an acre is placed on land restricted to agricultural use when it is acquired; in addition crop compensation and disturbance allowances are paid. Despite the high level of these payments, the vast majority of landowners prefer the land exchange system, which enables them to obtain, by private dealing, an even greater price for their land. Some landowners have thus become enormously wealthy as a result of owning agricultural land' in
a new town area.
Lt.
The only new point of any significance is the reference in paragraph 15 to a, suggestion made by the Secretary for the New Territories for the Kuk's consideration in May, that the land exchange entitlement ratio be changed from 5:2 to 5:1. This was a mere suggest- ion made with the intention of making land for exchange available to more people more quickly, which would have helped meet one of the main drawbacks of the land exchange scheme, that it moves too slowly. There was certainly no intention of imposing this change upon them.
5.
We
The Kuk's letter does not make any specific requests, and mere- ly asks that "New Territories land and other matters will hereafter be administered in a spirit of rule of law and with equity". At the same time however the Kuk has addressed a letter to the Governor repeating the proposal for a "New Territories Administrative Commission contained in their previrus letter to Lord Goronwy-Roberts. There is nothing really new in this letter either, and it' is proposed to reject the proposal on the same rounds as before.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.