FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1979
ACCOMMODATION OF SMALL ORGANISATIONS AFFECTED
BY REDEVELOPMENT
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THE TSUEN WAN DISTRICT OFFICE IS TAKING A FLEXIBLE APPROACH TOWARDS THE ACCOMMODATION OF SMALL ORGANISATIONS AFFECTED BY REDEVELOPMENT, THE TSUEN WAN TOWN MANAGER, MR. JAMES HAYES, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
SPEAKING TO THE LIONS CLUB OF HONG KONG, MR. HAYES POINTED OUT THAT THESE ORGANISATIONS OCCUPIED SMALL ÁREAS OF PRIWATE AGRICULTURAL LAND ON MODIFICATION OF TENANCY LICENCE OR CROWN LAND ON PERMIT.
HE SAID: IN EITHER CASE THE LAND AND-OR EX-GRATIA COMPENSATION AVAILABLE TO THEM UPON CLEARANCE DOES NOT MEET THE FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS OR PRIVATE REPROVISIONING IN THE NEW TOWN.
+BY ADOPTING A VARIETY OF SOLUTIONS, WE HAVE MOSTLY ENABLED SUCH BODIES TO REMAIN IN EXISTENCE WHILST WE ARE NOW TRYING TO WIDEN THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM. TO RE-ESTABLISH THEMSELVES IN PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION.+
MR. HAYES CITED AS EXAMPLES CHURCH, GIRL GUIDES AND BOY SCOUTS GROUPS WHICH HAD RECENTLY BEEN GIVEN TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATION WHILE A CLANSMEN'S HALL AND SOME SHRINES AND TEMPLES HAD BEEN RESITED.
+AT THE SAME TIME WE HAVE BEEN OBLIGED TO TELL THESE PEOPLE THAT OUR MEASURES ARE EMERGENCY AND SHORT TERM AND THAT THEY, AS WELL AS WE, MUST THINK MORE DEEPLY ABOUT THE IR FUTURE AND SOLVE IT PRIVATELY IF THEY CAN, HE STRESSED.
TOUCHING ON THE TSUEN WAN VILLAGE PAST WHICH EXTENDS BACK TO 300 YEARS OR MORE, MR. HAYES REVEALED THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS PLANNING TO PRESERVE SOME REMEMBRANCE OF IT, BUT IN A PRACTICAL WAY THAT WILL INCORPORATE THE BUILDINGS CONCERNED INTO THE NEW LAYOUT AND ENABLE THEM TO SERVE A USEFUL PURPOSE.
+WE PLAN TO PRESERVE THE NUCLEUS OF ONE VILLAGE AND TO KEEP THE COMMUNITY TEMPLE - A TIN HAU KUNG THAT HAS LONG SERVED A LARGE NUMBER OF LOCAL VILLAGES, HE SAID.
UNDER GOVERNMENT POLICY, PRE-1898 VILLAGES WERE ALWAYS RESITED, AND IN CONSEQUENCE THE COMMUNITIES WHICH LOOK TO THIS TEMPLE FOR GROUP IDENTITY AND RELIGIOUS SUPPORT CONTINUE TO EXIST, AND THEY HAVE VERY GREAT INTEREST IN IT.
AS FOR THE VILLAGE, ITS PRESENT OWNERS WILL BE ASKED TO MOVE TO NEW HOUSES IN 1980 AFTER WHICH THE LAND AND HOUSES WILL BE SURRENDERED AND BECOME CROWN PROPERTY.
+PROVIDED THERE ARE NO SERIOUS PROBLEMS, AND ALL THE CONCERNED AUTHORITIES ARE IN AGREEMENT, WE MAY LOOK FORWARD TO ITS RENOVATION AND RETENTION WITHIN THE NEW TOWN LAYOUT.
+ IT MAY BE USED TO PROVIDE HOMES FOR ELDERLY COUPLES UNDER SUITABLE ARRANGEMENTS WITH, TOO, A SMALL PERMANENT EXHIBITION ON LOCAL HISTORY AND FORMER WAYS OF LIFE,+ MR. HAYES ADDED.
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