anxiety, it was suggested that in adjusting the land rent in relation to the rateable value, increases should be subject to an annual upper limit expressed in dollar terms. As an alternative to the payment of the annual rent as described in this Annex, land owners should be allowed to pay land premia on a one-off basis.
4.59 As regards land leases, many questions were asked for the specific attention of the Land Commission. These are listed below:-
In view of the change in the land policy, would holders of leases already extended on payment of premia by instalments be required to pay the outstanding instalments when the Joint Declaration came into effect in 1985?
What would be the terms for renewal of the leases expiring before the draft agreement became effective in 1985?
As stated in the Annex, non-renewable leases expiring after 1997 would be dealt with in accordance with the relevant land laws and policies of the Hong Kong SAR, could that be taken to mean that they would be dealt with in the same way as those leases expiring before 1997 ?
What would be the arrangement for the unique freehold lease which was granted to a religious body?
How would the annual rent of land be calculated where there is no rateable value at present e.g. agricultural land and vacant sites?
What would be the arrangement for the existing short-term tenancies and temporary waivers and the land leases granted by the Hong Kong Industrial Estate Corporation?
What would be the terms for renewal of leases granted under the civil servants co-operative housing scheme and government-built housing schemes?
How would land ownership inside the Kowloon Walled City be dealt with?
Whether the rights in leases running beyond 30 June 1997 (mainly 75 year leases renewable for 75 years and 999 year leases) would be recog- nized and protected after 2047, and whether legal remedies would still be available if such long leases were not recognized and protected after 2047?
What arrangements for compensation in the event of land resumption would there be?
4.60 As regards land in the New Territories, the recognition of the historical background of the New Territories and the retention of the rights of the indigenous people were welcomed. However, rural committees and District Board members considered it necessary to make the following additional requests for the consideration of the Land Commission:-
In the case of old scheduled lots, village lots, small houses and similar rural holdings, where the property was held by or granted to a person descended through the male line from an indigenous person,
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