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Tuesday, May 22, 1973
KOWLOON BAY CLEARANCE MUST PROCEED AS PLANNED
A Government spokesman today said that plans for the clearance of
factories and shops at present occupying the site for the mass transit depot
at Kowloon Bay must proceed if construction of the railway was not to be
delayed.
He confirmed that all domestic residents in the area would be
accommodated and some have already moved from the area.
The position of factory-owners and shopkeepers continued to be viewed
with sympathy. Whilst it was true that formal notice of the clearance was
given as recently as March this year, the factory-owners and shopkeepers
have been aware since early 1972 that they would have to remove their
undertakings from the area,
All Crown Land permits were cancelled over a period in 1972, the
last cancellation taking effect from September 1. In addition, notices
intimating that clearance of the area was to proceed were posted as early as
January, 1972. Subsequently the entire area was screened by officers of the
Housing Department, known as the Resettlement Department at that time.
Officers of the Labour Department are available now at the Government
Offices, Kwun Tong to assist the workers employed in the area to find alternative
employment. It is expected that the majority of them will have no difficulty
in finding other jobs in the Kwun Tong area where there are currently ample
job opportunities.
The Government ....