TNAG-2073-FCO40-2952-Hong-Kong-Town-Planning-(Amendment)-Bill-1990-1990 — Page 67

16-NOV-1990 19:25

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Bill, and in any case his decisions, to become effective and

enforceable, will have to be confirmed by the Board. So it

may be unnecessary to consider appeal procedures against

these powers which will be in force for so short a time.

14.

Sir, let me finally stress that the

Government's objective is not to freeze private rights.

Indeed the legislation does not have this result. Its

purpose is to introduce proper planning and land use

management in the rural areas by extending statutory

planning jurisdiction to cover the whole territory. We wish

to ensure that development in the rural areas will proceed

in the right place under the right conditions and to promote

planned redevelopment of degraded areas. We need to do this

early because of the pace of changes in the environment

1

already happening. I am fully aware of, and appreciate, the

worries that landowners in the rural areas have about these

proposals though I believe them to be mistaken. For this

reason I have held several discussions with representatives

of the Heung Yee Kuk and shall continue the dialogue. I do

not imagine that statutory rural planning will be without

its problems, and it will need a constructive approach if

the development of the rural areas and the gradual

improvement of its environment are to make any progress.