FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1979
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SHA TIN MARKET SHOP OPERATORS OFFERED
FAIREST TERMS
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SHOP OPERATORS IN SHA TIN MARKET, WHICH IS TO BE CLEARED AFTER LUNAR NEW YEAR TO MAKE WAY FOR FURTHER MAJOR NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENTS, HAVE BEEN OFFERED THE FAIREST POSSIBLE TERMS, THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MR GERRY HIGGINSON, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT IN DECIDING THE TERMS AFTER TWO YEARS OF DISCUSSIONS WITH THE OPERATORS, HAD GIVEN DUE RECOGNITION TO THE FACT THAT THE MARKET'S EXISTENCE IN SHA TIN DATED BACK TO THE EARLY 1950S, AND WAS SET UP WITH GOVERNMENT ENCOURAGEMENT.
+BECAUSE OF THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, IT HAS BEEN ACCEPTED THAT THE OPERATORS ARE IN A DIFFERENT CATÉGORY FROM NORMAL SQUATTER SHOPKEEPERS OR OTHER PEOPLE ON CROWN LAND LEASES,+ HE SAID.
+THEREFORE, THE GOVERNMENT HAS OFFERED DOUBLE_THE_NORMAL RATE OF EX-GRATIA ALLOWANCE AND HAS ALSO RESERVED SHOPS AND STALLS IN WO CHE ESTATE COMMERCIAL COMPLEX FOR THOSE WHO ARE ELIGIBLE.+
MR HIGGINSON SAID THE OPERATORS WOULD RECEIVE $240 PER SQUARE FOOT FOR THE FIRST 75 SQUARE FEET, $60 PER SQUARE FOOT FOR THE NEXT 425 SQUARE FEET AND $40 PER SQUARE FOOT FOR ANY REMAINING AREA.
HE SAID UNDER THIS +ONE OFF+ ARRANGEMENT AN OPERATOR OF A 400 SQUARE FEET BUSINESS WOULD RECEIVE A TOTAL PAYMENT OF $37 500, WHICH AVERAGED ALMOST $94 PER SQUARE FOOT. THIS IS HIGHER THAN HAS BEEN PAID IN SOME STATUTORY AWARDS,+ HE SAID.
THE TOTAL PAY OUT IN EX-GRATIA ALLOWANCES WOULD BE $4.9 MILLION.
MR HIGGINSON SAID A TOTAL OF 159 PREMISES WOULD BE AFFECTED BY THE CLEARANCE WHICH, HE POINTED OUT, WAS BEING TIMED TO GIVE ELIGIBLE OPERATORS AMPLE TIME IN WHICH TO ESTABLISH THEMSELVES IN BUSINESSES IN WO CHE ESTATE COMMERCIAL COMPLEX. THEY COULD MOVE INTO THESE FROM THE BEGINNING OF NEXT MONTH.
HE SAID 91 OPERATORS QUALIFIED FOR THE SPECIAL TREATMENT+ AS THEIR PREMISES HAD BEEN RECORDED DURING A SQUATTER CONTROL SURVEY CONDUCTED IN 1965 BY THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT.
HE SAID THE REMAINDER, WHO ESTABLISHED BUSINESSES AFTER THE SURVEY, WOULD BE OFFERED NORMAL RATES OF EX-GRATIA ALLOWANCE. LICENSED HAWKERS WOULD GET PLACES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT MARKET NEAR LEK YUEN ESTATE.
MR HIGGINSON SAID ALL THOSE LIVING IN DOMESTIC STRUCTURES WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR PUBLIC OR TEMPORARY HOUSING IN SHA TIN.
/HE SAID