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Kingland Apartments rooftop residents walk out of meeting
The Director of Buildings, Mrs Helen Yu, had arranged with other government departments to meet residents of the illegal rooftop structures on Kingland Apartments this morning (Thursday) to further discuss their rehousing arrangements.
Present were representatives from Buildings Department, Housing Department, Social Welfare Department and District Office/Yau Tsim Mong.
After only a brief exchange, representatives of the residents walked out.
The Director of Buildings was disappointed over the residents' refusal to discuss.
"At my meeting with them on Tuesday, I had undertaken to confer with other departments concerned to consider how best the government can realistically and reasonably meet the wishes for rehousing. This morning's joint meeting was intended to help resolve matters.
"The residents are not acting in their own interest by walking out. The government's policy ensures that no one needs to be homeless," she said.
Of the 39 families involved, five have moved out voluntarily, 11 have accepted the government's rehousing offer, 13 are considering the government's offer, and 10 are refusing to accept the government's offer to the urban Temporary Housing Area.
Mrs Yu reiterated that her department had a statutory duty to execute. She will apply to the District Court for closure order on Monday (April 24) as notified to the residents in December last year.
End/Thursday, April 20, 1995