MONDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1976
COMPENSATION FOR FACTORY AND SHOP OPERATORS AT SHEK KU LUNG ROAD
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FACTORY AND SHOP OPERATORS AT NO. 52-64, SHEK KU LUNG ROAD, KOWLOON CITY, WHICH ARE TO BE DEMOLISHED TO MAKE WAY FOR A FLYOVER LEADING TO HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, WILL ALL BE COMPENSATED FOR THE LOSS OF THEIR TENANCIES AND DAMAGE TO THEIR BUSINESSES.
HOWEVER, THEY WILL NOT BE GIVEN ACCOMMODATION AT FACTORY OR SHOP UNITS IN PUBLIC ESTATES.
THIS WAS MADE KNOWN TO THE FACTORY OPERATORS BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY IN HIS REPLY TO THE IR JOINT LETTERS,
IN HIS REPLY, THE CHIEF SECRETARY POINTED OUT THAT IT WAS NOT THE GOVERNMENT POLICY TO OFFER ACCOMMODATION IN RESETTLEMENT FACTORY BUILDINGS TO TRADES CLEARED FROM PRIVATE TENEMENT BUILDINGS.
SAME AS THE SHOP-KEEPERS, THE FACTORY OPERATORS WERE ENTITLED BY LAW TO COMPENSATION FOR THEIR INTERRUPTED TENANCIES AND FOR DAMAGE TO THE BUSINESS OCCASIONED BY THE REMOVAL, HE ADDED.
THE CHIEF SECRETARY EXPLAINED THAT DUE TO VERY LIMITED ACCOMMODATION AVAILABLE, UNITS IN RESETTLEMENT FACTORY BUILDINGS MUST BE RESERVED FOR SQUATTER FACTORIES FOR WHOM IT WAS ORIGINALLY PLANNED AND FOR WHOM NO COMPENSATION WOULD BE AWARDED WHEN THEY WERE REQUIRED TO BE CLEARED.
THE FACTORY OPERATORS, TOGETHER WITH OTHER OCCUPANTS IN THE BUILDINGS, ARE GIVEN ABOUT ONE MORE MONTH TO MOVE OUT FROM THE IR PREMISES UNTIL DECEMBER 14, 1976 SINCE THE ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION WORK WILL NOT START UNTIL THEN. THE BUILDINGS HAD ALREADY BEEN RESUMED UNDER THE CROWN LAND RESUMPTION ORDINANCE AND ALL PROPERTIES REVERTED TO THE CROWN ON AUGUST 12, 1976.
UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE ORDINANCE, THE FACTORY OPERATORS AS WELL AS THE SHOP OPERATORS ARE ENTITLED TO CLAIM COMPENSATION BOTH IN RESPECT OF THE VALUE OF THEIR TENANCIES AND ALSO IN RESPECT OF DAMAGE TO THE IR BUSINESSES CAUSED BY HAVING TO CLOSE OR TO MOVE ELSEWHERE. HOWEVER, THESE CLAIMS SHOULD BE SUPPORTED BY STATEMENTS OF THEIR PREVIOUS PROFITS WITH ANY EVIDENCE WHICH THEY MIGHT HAVE TO SUBSTANTIATE THEM.
IF NO AGREEMENT ON THE AMOUNT OF COMPENSATION IS REACHED, EITHER PARTY MAY SEEK THE ADJUDICATION OF THE LANDS TRIBUNAL, BECAUSE ALL THIS CAN TAKE SOME TIME AND BECAUSE IT IS RECOGNISED THAT SOME CLAIMANTS MAY NEED MONEY TO ASSIST REMOVAL BEFORE A STATUTORY CLAIM COULD BE PROCESSED, THE GOVERNMENT WILL MAKE AN ADVANCE PAYMENT BASED ON THE AREA USED FOR THE BUSINESS OR TRADE. THE PAYMENT, ABOUT $40 PER SQUARE FOOT, WILL BE PAYABLE HALF BEFORE CLEARANCE AND HALF AFTER REMOVAL,
/THE