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Tuesday, July 3, 1973
ACCOMMODATION FOR KOWLOON TSAI SQUATTERS
Host of the Kowloon Tsai squatters who recently petitioned Government
House and the Housing Department for re-housing and compensation have already
been offered public housing or resite areas, a Housing Department spokesman
said today.
The Kowloon Teai area was affected by the June rains last year and
more than 8,000 people were then offered public housing or resites. Ninety-five
per cent of them accepted, but five per cent refused resites or insisted
that they should be given public housing in a different area than that offered.
Some people with workshops asked to continue operating in the area
rather than take public housing in spite of the fact that the area was
declared dangerous. Some squatters moved into the area after the rainstorms
and are now trying to claim eligibility for public housing to which they
are not entitled.
Mr. David Weeks, officer in charge of clearance operations, said:
"If all the people affected by the rainstorms in the area had accepted what
had been offered we would not have this problem now. It is regrettable that
there will always be a small minority of people who will attempt to jump the
queue for public housing and so gain an unfair advantage. Some of those
associated with the present petition appear to fall into this category. #
Mr. Weeks pointed out that those who had earlier qualified for
accommodation or a resite but had refused it could still take up the offer.
/A reply