FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1977
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IMPROVED COMPENSATION RATES FOR FARMERS
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A GROUP OF TUEN MUN FARMERS WHO HAVE TO MOVE TO MAKE WAY FOR A BIG GOVERNMENT DEVELOPMENT PROJECT ARE TO RECEIVE IMPROVED COMPENSATION TERMS.
THEY WILL BE COVERED BY NEW COMPENSATION, DISTURBANCE AND EX-GRATIA ALLOWANCES APPROVED BY FINANCE COMMITTEE IN JULY, THE DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR. JOHN TODD SAID TODAY.
MR. TODD HAS OUTLINED THE NEW TERMS IN A LETTER TO VILLAGERS AND FARMERS FROM SAN SHEK WAN, TSENG TAU HAU TSUEN AND THE CHING CHUNG KOON AREA IN REPLY TO THEIR REQUESTS FOR BETTER COMPENSATION TERMS.
THE VILLAGERS ARE TO MOVE LATER THIS MONTH FOR MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS CONNECTED WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF TUEN MUN NEW TOWN.
MR. TODD SAID THAT ALL THE GENUINE FARMERS INVOLVED IN THE CLEARANCE WHO COULD FIND SUITABLE AGRICULTURAL LAND OUTSIDE THE TUEN MUN DEVELOPMENT AREA WOULD BE GRANTED PERMITS TO CONTINUE THEIR LIVELIHOODS AS CULTIVATORS.
+LIKE ALL SUCH FARMERS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, THEY WILL BE ENTITLED TO NEW COMPENSATION RATES APPROVED BY FINANCE COMMITTEE ON JULY 27,+ HE SAID.
+THE FINANCE COMMITTEE DOUBLED THE EX-GRATIA REHABILITATION ALLOWANCE FOR GENUINE FARMERS WHO WISH TO CONTINUE FARMING ELSEWHERE FROM $2,500 TO $5,000.
+ADDITIONALLY, THE DISTURBANCE ALLOWANCE HAS BEEN RAISED FROM 40 AND 60 CENTS PER SQUARE FOOT TO $1 PER SQUARE FOOT.
+THERE WILL ALSO BE IMPROVED COMPENSATION RATES FOR PIGBREEDERS, WHO WILL NOW GET $11.50 PER SQUARE FOOT OF PIGSTY INSTEAD OF THE OLD RATE OF $10.+
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