TNAG-0614-FCO40-762-Visit-by-delegation-from-Heung-Yee-Kuk-(Rural-Consultive-Cou-1977 — Page 119

are mate wh me it is necessary to remove a whole village to make way for development.

I my letter to you d: fed 24th Tay 1975, 1 referred to a revision of the compensat..on system. Following discussion between the Heung You Kuk and the Secretary for the New Territories, new levels of non-statutory compensation were in fact introduced for land resumed within town boundaries. Similar arrangements have also been more recently introduced followin discussion with the Secretary for the bow ferritories in respect of land in special acquisition

2.

You refer in paragraph 15 of your letter to a suggestion by the beer try for the new Territories that the land exchange entitlement ratio be changed from :2 to 5:1. He has recently stressed

1 letter

to you th t this was merely a suggestion made as a possible means of reducing the waiting tim for land exchanges. There was no ntention to introduce this: cha am, laterally and as you are aware

han withdrawn his suggestion.

4

Try

for the flew

CORT@Matjon

Toronwy-berts has instructed me to say that he is notified that not only are both the letter and the spirit of the law relating to the acnuisition of lan in the new Territories for public prpose scrupulously followed, but also th t substantial additional

paytavnt.

le to those affected, whether OWIE IS or occupiers. The acquisition of private land for development pur; ones, in the wider public interest, inevitably causes disruption and hardship to those who depend on this land for their livelihood, but the statutory rovisions of the Crown Land Resumption Ordinance, together with the variour erangements for additional ex-gratia payments, ensure that those affected are compensated in accordance will the principles of the rule of law and of equity.

I am, Gentlemen,

Your oleiient servant,

thecr tary

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