TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 1991

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CLEARANCE TO IMPROVE ENVIRONMENT OF RESITE VILLAGE

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THE TSUEN WAN DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE TODAY (TUESDAY) JOINED HANDS WITH A NUMBER OF GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS TO MOUNT A LARGE-SCALE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT CLEARANCE IN HO PUI VILLAGE, A 20-YEAR-OLD RESITE VILLAGE LOCATED IN TSUEN WAN.

THE PURPOSE OF THE CLEARANCE IS TO RETURN THE VILLAGE TO ITS ORIGINAL CONDITION A TIDY AND ORDERLY RESIDENTIAL AREA, FREE OF UNDESIRABLE INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS AND UNAUTHORISED EXTENSIONS.

LIKE MANY OTHER RESITE VILLAGES IN THE DISTRICT, Hồ Pui VILLAGE HAS SEEN ITS ENVIRONMENT DETERIORATING BADLY THROUGH THE UNAUTHORISED CONVERSION OF GROUND FLOOR PREMISES TO INDUSTRIAL OPERATIONS.

FURTHERMORE, A LOT OF THESE INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITIES HAVE SPREAD. TO THE SURROUNDING PUBLIC COMMON AREAS, PASSAGEWAYS AND IN SOME CASES EVEN THE FIRE EXITS. THERE WERE MORE THAN 90 ILLEGAL STRUCTURES IDENTIFIED IN THE VILLAGE.

THE CLEARANCE IS EXPECTED TO LAST FOR MORE THAN A MONTH WHEN ALL UNAUTHORISED BUSINESSES AND OCCUPANTS WILL BE CLEARED AND THE UNAUTHORISED STRUCTURES ON GOVERNMENT LAND, SUCH AS CANOPIES AND OPEN STORAGE, WILL BE REMOVED.

THE EXERCISE WILL ALSO INVOLVE LEASE ENFORCEMENT ACTION AGAINST INDIVIDUAL VILLAGE HOUSES WHICH ARE USED FOR UNAUTHORISED BUILDING WORKS AND INDUSTRIAL OPERATIONS, BOTH OF WHICH ARE CONTRARY TO THE LEASE CONDITIONS.

TODAY'S CLEARANCE WAS THE SECOND SIMILAR EXERCISE INITIATED BY A WORKING GROUP SET UP BY THE DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE TO DEAL WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEM OF RESITE VILLAGES IN TSUEN WAN.

INCLUDED

GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS THAT TOOK PART IN THE EXERCISE THE TSUEN WAN DISTRICT OFFICE, THE POLICE, THE HOUSING AND REGIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENTS.

WITH THE FULL SUPPORT OF THE TSUEN WAN DISTRICT BOARD AND THE THUEN WAN RURAL COMMITTEE, THE WORKING GROUP LAUNCHED ITS FIRST SUCCESSFUL CLEARANCE IN 1989 IN THE VILLAGE OF CHUNG KWAI CHUNG.

THE VILLAGE IS NOW A CLEAN AND SAFE RESIDENTIAL AREA WITH REDECORATION OF ORIGINAL RESITE HOUSES NOW BEING ACTIVELY CARRIED OUT.

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