TNAG-0806-FCO40-1011-Policy-of-Government-of-Hong-Kong-on-land-in-the-New-Territo-1979 — Page 65

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plan. In this way, the Governor-in-Council would be

assured that a statutory consultative procedure related

to the planning had been followed. A statutory plan

would also provide a more certain definition of the

boundaries of the layout, which in the present system,

defines the limits in which the exchange policy operates.

It is appreciated that the present accelerated programme

for the New Towns and Market Towns probably precludes

the adoption of full statutory town planning procedures,

and that the justification of the use of resumption procedures (and exchange procedures) for the acquisition

of leased lands will have to continue to rely on the

approval by the Finance Committee of development packages

in the New Towns development programmes.

Nevertheless,

the Working Group noted that in many cases the first

formal notice which any landowner receives about the

resumption of his land is the posting of a resumption

notice, frequently of only one month duration, and con-

sidered that it is very important that Government should

make a firm endeavour to improve its procedures for

advance consultation and information.

Wherever possible,

at least three months formal notice should be given. This

formal advance notice is necessary not least because the

better informed are able to take advantage of any

prior information of Government's intentions in their

dealings in land before it is resumed.

/General