TNAG-2073-FCO40-2952-Hong-Kong-Town-Planning-(Amendment)-Bill-1990-1990 — Page 27

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FM HONG KONG

TO DESKBY 05130OZ F C O

TELNO 3621

OF 051025Z DECEMBER 90

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG

NCNA STATEMENT ON TOWN PLANNING CAMENDMENT) BILL 1990

1.

JI SHAOXIANG OF NCNA ISSUED A STATEMENT TO THE PRESS ON 5 DECEMBER ON THE TOWN PLANNING (AMENDMENT) BILL 1990. HE SAID THAT ACCORDING TO THE JOINT DECLARATION AND THE BASIC LAW, THE LAWFUL TRADITIONAL RIGHTS AND INTERESTS OF NEW TERRITORY RESIDENTS SHOULD BE SAFEGUARDED. ON THIS PREMISE, THE AUTHORITIES CONCERNED SHOULD RESPECT THE VIEWS OF NEW TERRITORY RESIDENTS AND THE HEUNG YEE KUK AND COME UP WITH AMENDMENTS TO THE BILL THROUGH CONSULTATIONS. HE ALSO EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT THE PROPOSALS WOULD BE IMPLEMENTED STEP BY STEP WITHOUT HASTE.

2.

BY WAY OF BACKGROUND, THE TOWN PLANNING (AMENDMENT) BILL 1990 IS AT PRESENT BEFORE LEGCO. IT WAS PUT TO THE COUNCIL BY THE GOVERNMENT AFTER A PERIOD OF CONSULTATION. DESPITE SOME OPPOSITION FROM THE HEUNG YEE KUK, THE MAJORITY OF THE POPULATION SUPPORT IT.

3.

PUBLICLY WE ARE STATING THAT WE ARE PUZZLED BY THE NCNA STATEMENT. NOTHING IN THE BILL CONFLICTS THE JOINT DECLARATION. SINCE THE BILL WAS FIRST GAZETTED IN JULY, THE GOVERNMENT HAS UNDERTAKEN EXTENSIVE CONSULTATIONS WITH VARIOUS SECTORS OF THE COMMUNITY AND PROFESSIONAL BODIES. WE HAVE ALSO RECEIVED MANY WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS. ALL VIEWS ON THE BILL HAVE BEEN PASSED TO THE AD HOC GROUP OF LEGCO STUDYING THE BILL. THERE IS NO QUESTION OF THE BILL BEING RUSHED THROUGH WITHOUT TAKING INTO ACCOUNT

PUBLIC OPINION.

THE NCNA STATEMENT STRIKES US AS A PARTICULARLY BLATANT ATTEMPT TO INTERFERE IN OUR ADMINISTRATION. THE REFERENCE TO SAFEGUARDING THE LAWFUL RIGHTS AND INTERESTS OF NEW TERRITORY RESIDENTS OF COURSE OCCURS IN THE BASIC LAW AND NOT/NOT IN THE JOINT DECLARATION. WHAT IS PARTICULARLY SURPRISING IS THAT NCNA HAVE MADE NO ATTEMPT TO APPROACH US PRIVATELY TO GIVE US THEIR VIEWS ON THE BILL BEFORE ISSUING THIS ON THE RECORD STATEMENT. IT HAS ALREADY PROVOKED A STRONG REACTION LOCALLY.

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