TNAG-0672-FCO40-821-Legislation-for-Crown-lands-in-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 37

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XCR(77)194

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land, will have to be cleared. Since no families or persons are affected, neither resettlement nor payment of ex-gratia rehabilitation/ building allowance will be necessary.

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Negotiations to obtain voluntary surrender of the private agricultural land are still in progress but the institution of formal resumption proceedings is recommended to avoid any delays which may be caused by absentee landowners or succession difficulties. As the land to be resumed lies within Areas 14 and 16 of the Tsing Yi Outline Development Plan, the landowners will be offered the alterna- tive of land exchange on Letter B terms or cash compensation which includes an ex-gratia payment for private agricultural land to bring the total compensation up to $10 per square foot or $17 per square foot if the cash offer is accepted within three months. The majority of landowners are expected to accept the exchange offer, so that the amount of cash compensation to be paid out will be reduced accordingly.

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Honourable Members will be asked to advise, under section 3 of the Crown Lands Resumption Ordinance (Chapter 124), whether the resumption of the lots listed at Annex B is required for a public purpose, namely to implement the development of Areas 14 and 16, Tsing Yi, New Territories.

(The Deputy Secretary for the Environment (Mr G. BARNES) will attend before the Council for the discussion of this item).

28th June 1977

(ENV 95/7710)

COUNCIL CHAMBER

C.S. 84

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