- 5 ·
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1974
MORE PARKING SPACES FOR CHOI HUNG ESTATE
*******
THE HOUSING AUTHORITY IS TO CONSTRUCT A GARAGE BUILDING IN CHOI HUNG ESTATE TO EASE THE SHORTAGE OF PARKING FACILITIES IN THE ESTATE.
TENDERS WERE INVITED TODAY FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE FOUR-STOREY BLOCK WHICH WILL PROVIDE 500 PARKING SPACES FOR THE ESTATE TENANTS. THE ROOF OF THE BLOCK WILL BE DEVELOPED INTO A PLAY AREA.
+ THE GARAGE WILL PROVIDE THE VERY MUCH NEEDED ADDITIONAL PARKING FACILITIES FOR THE ESTATE,+ A SPOKESMAN FOR THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT SAID.
+PARKING IN THE ESTATE HAS BEEN CHAOTIC,+ HE NOTED, BUT WITH THE ADDITIONAL 500 SPACES AND THE EXISTING 400 OPEN AIR PARKING SPACES THE CONGESTED SITUATION WILL BE EASED CONSIDERABLY IF NOT TOTALLY ELIMINATED.+
THE PLAY AREA ON THE ROOF OF THE GARAGE WILL BE LINKED TO THE THREE SURROUNDING DOMESTIC BLOCKS BY FOOTBRIDGES FOR THE CONVENIENCE OF THE ESTATE TENANTS. IT WILL PROVIDE AS MUCH PLAY SPACE AS THE EXISTING PLAYGROUND ON WHICH THE BLOCK IS BUILT.
CONSTRUCTION WORK WILL BEGIN IN NOVEMBER, AND TAKE ABOUT A YEAR TO COMPLETE.
PENSIONERS GET 10 PER CENT RAISE
******
APPROVAL HAS BEEN GIVEN BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE FOR A 10 PER CENT INCREASE IN PENSIONS WITH EFFECT FROM OCTOBER 1, 1974.
THIS INCREASE WILL BE PAID TO ALL GOVERNMENT PENSIONERS IN RECEIPT OF A PENSION ON OR BEFORE APRIL 1, 1974 AND WHO HAVE REACHED THE AGE OF 55.
THOSE PENSIONERS WHO RETIRED AFTER APRIL 1, 1974 WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE INCREASE, BUT THE IR PENSIONS WILL BE ADJUSTED TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE RECENT GOVERNMENT SALARY INCREASES.
WIDOWS AND ORPHANS PENSIONS IN PAYMENT ON APRIL 1, 1974 WILL ALSO BE INCREASED BY 10 PER CENT WITH EFFECT FROM THAT DATE.
THE INCREASE IN PENSIONS WILL COST APPROXIMATELY $3.8 MILLION IN THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR.
THE INCREASED BENEFITS WILL BE PAID TO ELIGIBLE PENSIONERS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.