TNAG-2073-FCO40-2952-Hong-Kong-Town-Planning-(Amendment)-Bill-1990-1990 — Page 31

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Ordinance to the rural areas. Under the Town Planning (Amendment) Bill, which was published in July 1990, any change of rural land use within designated development permission areas will need the approval of the Director of

Planning. In order to prevent rapid changes in land use before the Bill becomes law, the Government have also

designated interim development permission areas to freeze land use in its existing state. The Bill received its first

reading in the Legislative Council on 7 November.

5.

The Bill has aroused strong opposition from land owners in the New Territories, represented by the Heung Yee Kuk, (a statutory body which was established in the 1920s to defend the interests of the indigenous inhabitants of the New Territories). A delegation from the Heung Yee Kuk, including several members of LegCo, called on the Governor

on 22 October to protest against the Bill and to discuss the

land owners' concerns. These mainly relate to lack of prior public consultation and the absence of provisions for

compensation. A Heung Yee Kuk delegation also visited the UK at the end of October to lobby MPs against the Bill. They presented a petition to Mr Peter Brooke MP, whose constituency includes the China Town area, but they did not see Ministers.

6.

The draft reply to Mr Brooke explains the reasons for the new legislation and the arrangements being made for

public consultation, while making clear that this is a matter which falls within the autonomy of the Hong Kong

Government.

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