E
21
The involvement of a Chinese Government-owned company in this proposed development has, however, raised some speculation regarding the terms on which the property would be sold on completion. It is most unlikely that substantial numbers of buildings would be com- pleted in Tin Shui Wai before 1986, which would leave only an eleven year period in the lease to be sold. The developers have been asked how they propose to deal with this question. They have not yet been prepared to give an answer, but it is not considered that the decision on whether permission should be given to develop should be linked to their answer. It is, after all, a problem which would affect all private development in the New Territories, the formation of land for which has not yet begun.
22
The developers have asked for comments on their proposals and cooperation in their development studies. The programme of these studies has now been spelt out and a copy is at Annex E. There clearly is and can be no final answer until it is known what the scale of land production and housing proposed is and when such land and housing could be made available for use. This point should be reached towards the end of the second stage of the studies, which is expected to be completed by the end of August. During this stage the involvement of Government departments would be fairly wide-spread, but, with the exception of the New Territories Administration and the New Territories Development Department which will need some additional staff, the extra resources needed to respond to the studies should be minimal. However, given that Government must generally welcome the substantial production of land and housing which this scheme would provide, it is clearly in the Government's and the developers' interests that Government departments should cooperate as fully as their resources allow with this stage of the study. But it should be clearly understood that this cooperation does not imply the final approval of specific development proposals.
23
On completion of the second stage of the studies, however, it would be impossible to further delay a firm decision on Government's attitude towards the development. Indeed, as it would be necessary to take steps to build up staff to respond to the developer's detailed proposals and to other development proposals in this area (see paragraph 18 above), there would be no further advantage to Government in maintaining the hypothetical nature of the studies. At that stage a view would need to be taken on the development proposals and, if this were favourable, a further submission would be made seeking authority to proceed.
24
told:
(a)
At this stage therefore it is proposed that the consortium be
that the Government is prepared to cooperate fully in the first and second stages of the development study;
G.S. 56
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