TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1981
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SIR MURRAY VISITS FIRE VICTIMS
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THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, TODAY (TUESDAY) EXPRESSED SYMPATHY TO LAST NIGHT'S PING YEUNG SUN TSUEN FIRE VICTIMS DURING A VISIT TO THEIR TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATION AT THE WONG TAI SIN COMMUNITY CENTRE.
IT WAS PARTICULARLY SAD, HE SAID, THAT IT OCCURRED IN THE NEW YEAR WHEN MOST OF THE RESIDENTS WERE AWAY IN CHINA FOR THE HOLIDAYS.
AND HE ALSO EXPRESSED HIS CONCERN ABOUT THE SQUATTER SITUATION WHICH HAD BEEN EXACERBATED BY THE ARRIVAL OF NEW IMMIGRANTS FROM CHINA.
EARLIER IN THE DAY THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR SELWYN ALLEYNE VISITED THE SITE TO CHECK ON EMERGENCY RELIEF WORK.
HE WAS TOLD THAT MORE THAN 2 430 PEOPLE FROM 757 FAMILIES HAD REGISTERED FOR RELIEF. THE VICTIMS COMPRISED 1 232 MEN, 757 WOMEN AND 446 CHILDREN.
SIR MURRAY WAS MET AT THE FIRE SCENE BY THE DIRECTOR OF HOUSING, MR BERNARD WILLIAMS AND THE CITY DISTRICT OFFICER (WONG TAI SIN), MR STEPHEN SELBY, WHILE MR ALLEYNE WAS ACCOMPANIED BY THE REGIONAL SOCIAL WELFARE OFFICER (EAST KOWLOON), MR ALEXANDER FUNG.
THE VICTIMS ARE BEING TEMPORARILY ACCOMMODATED AT THE WONG TAI SIN COMMUNITY CENTRE, THE TSZ WAN SHAN EAST AND SOUTH COMMUNITY CENTRES AND AT THE EAST KAI TAK INDOOR STADIUM.
MEANWHILE, THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF HOUSING (CLEARANCE) MR GREGORY CHAN SAID SITE IDENTIFICATION WILL BE CARRIED OUT ON THURSDAY (FEBRUARY 12) AND GENUINE VICTIMS WOULD BE REHOUSED ACCORDING TO THEIR ELIGIBILITY WITH THE PAYMENT OF EMERGENCY RELIEF FUNDS.
+ELIGIBILITY OF SOME COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL AND AGRICULTURAL UNDERTAK INGS WILL ALSO BE ESTABLISHED FOR EX-GRATIA PAYMENT.
+WE ARE ALSO WORKING OUT A BATTLE PLAN' TO ACCELERATE THE HOUSING PROCESS IN THE SHORTEST TIME POSSIBLE. HOWEVER, CARE MUST BE TAKEN TO PREVENT IMPOSTERS FROM TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE SITUATION,+ HE SAID.
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