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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1994
THE DIRECTOR POINTED OUT: "WE HAVE IDENTIFIED THOSE BUILDINGS AND WE ARE TAKING ACTION TO INVESTIGATE INTO THEIR CONDITIONS AS A MATTER OF PRIORITY.
"IF OUR INVESTIGATION SHOULD UNCOVER ANY DANGER OR NEED FOR ANY ACTION, WE WILL TAKE WHATEVER STEPS NECESSARY TO PROTECT THE RESIDENTS AND THE PUBLIC."
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ROOFTOP OCCUPANTS FAIL TO ATTEND SPECIAL MEETING
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TSUEN WAN ROOFTOP OCCUPANTS WHO HAVE NOT YET REGISTERED WITH THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT TODAY (WEDNESDAY) DID NOT TURN UP AT A SPECIAL MEETING AT THE TSUEN WAN DISTRICT OFFICE ARRANGED BY THE BUILDINGS DEPARTMENT TO DISCUSS REHOUSING ARRANGEMENTS.
ALSO PRESENT IN THE SCHEDULED MEETING WERE THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR/OPERATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT MR PETER YIP, AND THE HOUSING MANAGER/CLEARANCE, NEW TERRITORIES WEST OF THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT, MR K Y TANG.
THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF BUILDINGS, MR EDWARD
LOK, SAID: "I
AM VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT DESPITE OUR SPECIAL EFFORT ΤΟ HELP THE ROOFTOP OCCUPANTS, NONE OF THEM TURNED UP AT THE MEETING. THEY WERE INFORMED LAST FRIDAY ABOUT THIS MEETING. ONLY YESTERDAY THEY TOLD US BY FAX THAT THEY WOULD LIKE REHOUSING IN PUBLIC RENTAL HOUSING UNITS FOR ALL AFFECTED OCCUPANTS."
THE HOUSING AUTHORITY HAS ADVISED THAT THE POLICY OF REHOUSING ARRANGEMENT FOR SQUATTERS IS WELL ESTABLISHED AND HAS BEEN APPLIED ACROSS THE TERRITORY IMPARTIALLY.
IN ACCORDANCE WITH GOVERNMENT POLICY FOR DEALING WITH UNAUTHORISED ROOFTOP STRUCTURES, THE BUILDINGS DEPARTMENT LIAISES CLOSELY WITH THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT AND SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT WELL BEFORE HAND SO THAT REHOUSING ARRANGEMENTS AND OTHER FORMS OF ASSISTANCE NECESSARY COULD BE OFFERED TO ALL OCCUPANTS. THOSE IN NEED WOULD NOT BE RENDERED HOMELESS.
IN THIS CONTEXT, REHOUSING OF THE AFFECTED OCCUPANTS WOULD BE CARRIED OUT IN ACCORDANCE WITH ESTABLISHED POLICY.
ONLY THE ELIGIBLE OCCUPANTS WILL BE REHOUSED IN PUBLIC RENTAL HOUSING UNITS, WHILE THOSE INELIGIBLE WILL BE OFFERED TEMPORARY HOUSING AND THEY CANNOT JUMP THE QUEUE.
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