TNAG-1724-FCO40-2437-Minutes-and-Hansards-of-the-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1988 — Page 361

Clause 9(2) of the Bill gives rise to the question

of the application of rent concession to properties in the New

Territories held by t'sos and t'ongs and whether the holders

of such properties are required to pay the new rent

ker cent

(equivalent to 3% of the rateable value of the properties). The Heung Yee Kuk brought the issue to the attention of the hoc Group which subsequently took it up with the

Administration. The Administration brought it up with the

After discussion and deliberation by the

Land Commission.

Land Commission, it was decided that the rent for properties held by t'sos and t'ongs should remain unchanged. Appropriate

· amendments will be moved later at committee stage so that problems in this respect will be satisfactorily resolved. I would like to take this opportunity to express,

to express, on behalf of the people in the New Territories, my sincere gratitude to Hon. F.R.HU, Convener of the Ad hoc Group, and other Honourable h Members of the Ad hoc

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group.

There are some discrepancies between the definition of "established village" under Clause 9 (3) of the Bill and the

original meaning of the term in Annex III to the Joint.

Declaration, which may seriously affect the interest of the indigenous villagers who were unable to possess land at the

time when the block lease was made. In view of this, the

view Heung Yee Kuk put forth its views to the Ad hoc Group and requested for an amendment to the definition. The matter was

taken up for discussion with the Administration. However, no

satisfactory resolution has been made so far because the

Administration insists that the land survey on which the block

lease was based was extensive and comprehensive enough to

include all the established villages in the New Territories. However, it is necessary for me to point out that the block lease is only a unilateral leasehold agreement made by the

Government by which all resumed private land in the New

Territories was leased to its original owners. It is only

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