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Friday, December 29, 1972
REPROVISIONING SCHEME FOR SHOPKEEPERS MOST REASONABLE
Every Means Tried To Ease Possible Hardship
A Resettlement Department spokesman said today that the reprovisioning
scheme for the 44 shopkeepers affected by the first stage of the Shek Kip Mei
Rehousing Scheme was the most reasonable worked out by Government.
The Resettlement Department had tried every possible way to ensure
that the shopkeepers did not run into hardship.
The spokesman said that the reprovisioning scheme involved a foot-
for-foot exchange as well as rent rebates.
The rebate was to relieve any transitional difficulties that might
arise in the initial period when tenants moved from Shek Kip Mei to Pak Tin.
For those who want to terminate their business, they can apply for
cash compensations which range from $8,100 for a half-bay shop to $20,000 for
a 2-bay shop.
The spokesman said that this rate of compensation was more favourable
than those awarded to shop tenants in the private sector under the Exclusion
Order.
Shopkeepers taking up the reprovisioning offer will enjoy rent rebate
of 50 per cent for the first year and 25 per cent for the second.
He said that even without any rebate the rent for Pak Tin shops were
low compared with those for shops in the private sector in the neighourhood.
"The rent rebate only reflects Government's sincere wish to help the
Shek Kip Mei shopkeepers to re-establish themselves at Pak Tin during the
initial period," the spokesman said.
/Commenting