rapid growth and development of industry and the expansion of population
would naturally lead to the increase in the price of land. The authorities
in view of the chance for profit did not give consideration to those small
factories who had accomplished good merits in former days in the salvation
of Hong Kong. All for demolition as a rule. Before proceeding to demolish
a district, the authorities will despatch staff to visit the industrial
units concerned as a propagandist, making known everywhere that the
authorities in the resumption of your factory site would resettle you in
the multi-storeyed factory buildings, and that in the name of collection
of rent the authorities would in reality be collecting a little service
The factory buildings for resettlement would be under protection.
Every unit was given a small booklet in which there was the word "Protected",
notifying that the demolition would take place on a certain day in a certain
month. So the factory buildings were demolished, and followed by resettle-
ment to factory building. Oh! My God!
The so-called resettlement factory
buildings were in fact empty and unpartitioned spaces with only pillars!
expenses.
3.
No compensation given since demolition of factories
A complete factory, holding a legal licence, with building
construction, cables, machinery, installation would cost from $20,000.00 to
$30,000.00 in respect of smallest ones to over $100,000.00 for bigger ones
(computing according to the price index 16 years ago). It had earned quite
a lot for Hong Kong, afforded living for many persons and also paid much
taxes and rates! It was sad that the lease was for one year in their
elation the authorities would renew the lease for another year, but other-
wise the lease would be discontinued. One word "Demolition", sand and dust
scatterred all over, heartfelt efforts for many years turned to dust and
earth. Among the factories were also quite a number of village houses and
native houses built during the Japanese occupation, the majority having no
red deeds, and thus no compensation. Furniture and implements which were
too heavy and too clumsy could not be accommodated and therefore could ̧·
only end together with the factory buildings, without a single cent of
compensation from the authorities.
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