TNAG-0806-FCO40-1011-Policy-of-Government-of-Hong-Kong-on-land-in-the-New-Territo-1979 — Page 141

5.2.4

(iv)

5.3

- 7

That in all cases, compensation whether for voluntary sur-ender (i.e. acuisition by agreement prior to compulsory acquisition) or following formal resumption should be in cash.

We see nothing wrong in principle in the Crown making a reasonably generous offer in an attempt to obtain a voluntary surrender of land prior to formal resumption. However, the present practice of offering a cash sum of $17 per square foot for agricultural land within the main New Town Layouts (or "Letter B" in lieu) whilst offering between about $2 and $5 per square foot for land outside the layouts (or inside the layouts after the resumption date) is inequitable, as it is arbitrary, is not based on valuation and often tends to favour one category of owner over others.

6.1

6.2

A System of Planning and Development Control

There is in our opinion, a need for the whole of the New Territories to be covered by Zoning Plans. Such plans would set the pattern for the orderly development of the area and would act as the framework within which all parties including Government, developers and indigenous farmers could work.. They would delineate with precision the boundaries of all areas within which development or changes of use would be permitted and would specify the type of developments and changes of nse that could take place. Such plans need not be static and inflexible but could be subject to continuous change in response to changes in the pace and direction of development.

The present system of development control in the New Territories relies primarily on lease conditions, the Buildings Ordinance and District Office policy. We consider this to be undesirable as, in an area where the bulk of land is held under virtually identical lease conditions, the circumstances under which development can take place must often be considered in an ad hoc manner, for each case and often, the decision given to an applicant appears arbitrary. This is particularly so in the case of applications under the small house policy scheme which we consider should be amended to restrict the development of village-type houses to the immediate environs of villages as designated on zoning plans. It would be more satisfactory if the primary weapon in development control was a published zoning plan.