3
SUNDAY, APRIL 23, 1989
EX-GRATIA PAYMENTS TO LIVESTOCK FARMERS TO BE SPEEDED UP
LIVESTOCK FARMERS IN THE PRESENT CONTROL AREAS WHO HAVE ALREADY CEASED OPERATION FOR SOME TIME WILL BE ABLE TO RECEIVE THEIR EX-GRATIA ALLOWANCES WITHIN A FEW DAYS AFTER A PROPOSED NEW PROCEDURE FOR PAYMENT IS IMPLEMENTED, ACCORDING TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT,
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE LIVESTOCK WASTE DISPOSAL CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE, MR LEO KWAN, SAID THE PROPOSAL WOULD BE DISCUSSED AT THE COMING CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE MEETING ON TUESDAY (APRIL 25).
MR KWAN SAID THE ADMINISTRATION HAD RECENTLY REVIEWED THE PAYMENT PROCEDURE FOR THE EX-GRATIA ALLOWANCES, FOLLOWING COMPLAINTS BY LIVESTOCK FARMERS IN CONTROL AREAS ABOUT DELAYS IN THE PAYMENT OF EX-GRATIA ALLOWANCES TO FARMERS WHO HAD CEASED BUSINESS UNDER THE LIVESTOCK WASTE CONTROL SCHEME.
UNDER THE EXISTING PROCEDURE, LAND STATUS CHECKS ARE CARRIED OUT BEFORE PAYMENTS ARE MADE. OWING TO STAFF CONSTRAINTS, THERE HAVE BEEN DELAYS IN COMPLETING LAND STATUS CHECKS, WHICH IN TURN DELAYS THE PAYMENT OF EX-GRATIA ALLOWANCES.
UNDER THE PROPOSED PROCEDURE, LAND STATUS CHECKS AND PAYMENT OF EX-GRATIA ALLOWANCES WILL BE CARRIED OUT SEPARATELY.
ACCORDING TO AN EPD SPOKESMAN, UPON CESSATION OF BUSINESS, FARMERS CAN BE PAID THE FULL AMOUNT OF EX-GRATIA ALLOWANCES BETWEEN EIGHT TO 11 WEEKS IN THE NORMAL CASE, WITHOUT REGARD ΤΟ LAND STATUS AND WITHOUT HAVING TO WAIT FOR LAND STATUS CHECK.
THE NEW PROCEDURE WILL NOT CHANCE THE EXISTING POLICY THAT STRUCTURES ON GOVERNMENT LAND WILL BE DEMOLISHED AFTER EX-GRATIA ALLOWANCES ARE PAID. DEMOLITION WILL BE CARRIED OUT ONCE LAND STATUS CHECKS ARE COMPLETED.
THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT THOSE LIVESTOCK FARMERS WHO HAD NOT YET BEEN PAID AN OUTSTANDING 25 PER CENT OF THE EX-GRATIA ALLOWANCES WOULD ALSO BE PAID SOON AFTER THE NEW PROCEDURE WAS ADOPTED.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE MEETING TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY APRIL 25 IN THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT OFFICE CONFERENCE ROOM, TUEN MUN GOVERNMENT OFFICES BUILDING, 1 TUEN HI ROAD,
NEW TERRITORIES.
THE MEETING WILL BEGIN AT 2 PM.
/4