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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1975
REPLY TO PETITION TO ACTING GOVERNOR
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THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, MR. J.J. ROBSON, HAS REPLIED TO THE PETITION SUBMITTED TO THE ACTING GOVERNOR BY SIX FORMER COMMERCIAL TENANTS OF THE GOVERNMENT-OWNED BUILDINGS AT NOS. 197, 199, 201, 203 AND 207 SAI YEUNG CHOI STREET.
IN HIS LETTER, MR. ROBSON POINTED OUT THAT NOTICE OF GOVERNMENT'S INTENTION TO TERMINATE THE TENANCIES IN QUESTION WAS GIVEN IN WRITING TO ALL CONCERNED AT THE END OF MAY THIS YEAR.
THE PERIOD OF NOTICE GIVEN WAS FOUR MONTHS, SO THAT THE TENANCIES EXPIRED AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER. THE NOTICE WAS TO GIVE TIME FOR THE TENANTS TO MAKE PREPARATIONS FOR REMOVAL.
MR. ROBSON SAID: +AT NO TIME HAVE THE TENANTS CONCERNED. BEEN PROMISED COMPENSATION OR ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION AT THE END OF THEIR TENANCIES OR UPON REMOVAL.
+FURTHERMORE. THE FORMER TENANTS ARE NOT ENTITLED TO STATUTORY COMPENSATION UNDER THE LANDLORD AND TENANT (CONSOLIDATION) ORDINANCE, THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY (LAND RESUMPTION AND RELATED PROVISIONS) ORDINANCE OR ANY OTHER ORDINANCE.+
HE SAID THAT IN SPITE OF THE FORMER TENANTS' LACK OF LEGAL RIGHTS, THE GOVERNMENT WAS REASSESSING THE LEVELS OF CASH PAYMENT ALREADY OFFERED. IT WAS ALSO CONSIDERING WHETHER IN THE CASE OF WORKSHOPS THE OPTION OF ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION IN LIEU OF CASH COULD BE MADE AVAILABLE.
+ IN ORDER TO HELP WITH THIS,+ HE, ADDED, +STAFF OF THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT WILL SHORTLY VISIT THE PREMISES TO SURVEY THE UNDERTAKINGS. IT WILL, THEREFORE, BE ESSENTIAL IN THEIR OWN INTERESTS FOR THE FORMER COMMERCIAL TENANTS TO CO-OPERATE IN THE SURVEY.+
MR. ROBSON CONTINUED: +THEREAFTER, THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT WILL INFORM THE FORMER COMMERCIAL TENANTS OF THE RESULTS OF THE SURVEY INDIVIDUALLY. AT THE SAME TIME, FINAL LEGAL NOTICES REQUIRING VACANT POSSESSION OF THE PREMISES WILL BE SERVED,+
THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT SAID THAT ANY OFFER OF ASSISTANCE EMERGING FROM THE ASSESSMENT PROCESS WHICH WAS SHORTLY TO START WOULD SUPERSEDE THE OFFER OF CASH PAYMENTS EQUIVALENT TO TWO MONTHS' RENT PREVIOUSLY MADE TO THE FORMER COMMERCIAL TENANTS. FURTHERMORE, ANY ARREARS OF RENT REMAINING OUTSTANDING AT THE TIME OF EVACUATION WOULD BE COLLECTED.
FINALLY, MR. ROBSON EXPLAINED THAT THE REQUEST OF THE FORMER TENANTS FOR AN EXTENSION OF TIME OF TWO MONTHS BEFORE MOVING OUT COULD NOT BE AGREED AS DEMOLITION OF THE BUILDING WOULD BEGIN ON JANUARY 1, 1976.
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