MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1976.
CLEARANCE OF TAI ON MANSION COMPLETED
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CLEARANCE OF TAI ON MANSION, WHICH WILL BE PULLED DOWN TO MAKE WAY FOR MTR TUNNELLING WORK, WAS COMPLETED THIS MORNING.
THE REMAINING TENANTS OF DOMESTIC UNITS ON UPPER FLOORS VOLUNTARILY MOVED OUT.
OCCUPANTS OF SEVEN GROUND FLOOR SHOPS LEFT WITHOUT ANY
INCIDENT.
THE GOODS AND CHATTELS BELONGING TO THESE OCCUPANTS WERE TRANSPORTED TO A GOVERNMENT GODOWN FOR SAFE KEEPING AND FOR THE OWNERS TO CLAIM THEM BACK AT THEIR CONVENIENCE.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN TODAY RE-ITERATED THAT THE COMPENSATION PAYMENTS ARE AWAITING THEIR COLLECTION AT THE TREASURY'S KOWLOON SUB-OFFICE.
THE TENANTS OF THE BUILDING WHO HAD BEEN GIVEN 16 MONTHS' NOTICE OF THE DECISION ON REVERTING THE BUILDING TO THE GOVERNMENT WERE OFFERED COMPENSATION IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS:
DOMESTIC TENANTS: CASH ASSISTANCE CALCULATED AT $20 PER SQUARE
FT. OF LIVING SPACE AND ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION IN PUBLIC HOUSING=
OWNER-OCCUPIERS: COMPENSATION FOR THEIR FLATS AT FULL MARKET
VALUE AND ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION IN PUBLIC HOUSING AS WELL AS CASH ASSISTANCE=
COMMERCIAL TENANTS: COMPENSATION FOR LOSSES OF BUSINESS/PROFIT,
VALUE OF FITTINGS STORAGE, TRANSPORT OF STOCKS AND FEES FOR NEW LEASES (IN CASES THEY ARE MOVING ELSEWHERE) AND OTHER EXPENSES.
IN THE CASES OF OWNER-OCCUPIERS AND SHOP OPERATORS, ACCEPTANCE OF COMPENSATION OFFERED BY THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT PREJUDICE THEIR APPEAL TO THE LANDS TRIBUNAL, IF THEY ARE NOT SATISFIED. THE GOVERNMENT HAS STATED THAT IF THE AMOUNT THE TRIBUNAL AWARDED IS HIGHER THAN THE COMBINED TOTAL OF COMPENSATION, IT WILL MAKE UP THE BALANCE. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE GOVERNMENT WILL NOT ASK FOR ONE CENT FROM THEM, IF THE TRIBUNAL AWARD IS LOWER. THOSE WHO HAVE NOT YET COME FORWARD TO COLLECT THEIR COMPENSATION ARE ADVISED THAT THEY MAY DO SO ANY TIME THEY LIKE SINCE THE MONEY HAS BEEN MADE AVAILABLE TO THEM.
SINCE THE BUILDING REVERTED TO THE GOVERNMENT IN MID-APRIL THIS YEAR, ALL TENANTS, INCLUDING COMMERCIAL TENANTS HAVE NOT HAD TO PAY RENTALS AND RATES.
IN CASH TERMS, THE SEVEN COMMERCIAL TENANTS WILL RECEIVE BETWEEN THEM SOME $219,000 IN COMPENSATION AND SOME $73,000 IN UNPAID RENTS.
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