TNAG-0808-FCO40-1013-Use-of-Crown-lands-relinquished-by-Ministry-of-Defence-in-Ho-1978 — Page 9

(c) although not likely to be as popular as the final report

of the Victoria Barracks Planning Committee, the Public Works Department scheme devotes a satisfactory propor- tion of the area to public amenity and ensures adequate revenue for the public benefit.

Reference to the Victoria Barracks Planning Committee

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Paragraph 14 to 16 of memorandum XCC(77)82 proposed that the Victoria Barracks Planning Committee should be asked if it would be willing to adopt Government's alternative plan in place of its own. After so long an interval, it would be much more difficult for the Committee to consider altering its plan, particularly as it will be hard to maintain the confidentiality of the arrangements. For this reason, it is considered that such a reference should not be attempted, and that Government must publish both the Committee's plans and its own and the reasons for its preference of the latter. The Director of Public Works, who was a member of the Planning Committee, con- siders that a significant proportion of the members would find the Public Works Department's alternative proposals more acceptable than the Committee's own final proposals. He advises that the Committee should be given the opportunity to see and comment on the alternative proposals, so that at least the embarrassment of the public antagonism of the Planning Committee itself can be avoided, and at best the Committee may offer to adopt the plans.

Public relations

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With regard to the UMELCO proposals, the Director of Home Affairs has commented as follows:

(a) The Defence Costs Agreement, which resulted in an

increased expenditure, was eventually accepted by the public, albeit grudgingly. Although the sale of released land to balance the increased defence costs may be understood by the better educated members of the community, the tangible benefits of a larger park or other public amenities will be more appreciated by the general public.

(b)

While the recommendations of the Victoria Barracks Planning Committee have not been published, the public is expecting significantly more land to be designated for public use than was proposed in the original plan. The rejection of the Committee's proposals will tend to be regarded as an indication that the Government wishes to maximise revenue.

CONFIDENTIAL **