XN000022-1973-07-03 — Page 7

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Tuesday, July 3, 1973

ACCOMMODATION FOR KOWLOON TSAI SQUATTERS

Host of the Kowloon Tsai squatters who recently petitioned Government

House and the Housing Department for re-housing and compensation have already

been offered public housing or resite areas, a Housing Department spokesman

said today.

The Kowloon Teai area was affected by the June rains last year and

more than 8,000 people were then offered public housing or resites. Ninety-five

per cent of them accepted, but five per cent refused resites or insisted

that they should be given public housing in a different area than that offered.

Some people with workshops asked to continue operating in the area

rather than take public housing in spite of the fact that the area was

declared dangerous. Some squatters moved into the area after the rainstorms

and are now trying to claim eligibility for public housing to which they

are not entitled.

Mr. David Weeks, officer in charge of clearance operations, said:

"If all the people affected by the rainstorms in the area had accepted what

had been offered we would not have this problem now. It is regrettable that

there will always be a small minority of people who will attempt to jump the

queue for public housing and so gain an unfair advantage. Some of those

associated with the present petition appear to fall into this category. #

Mr. Weeks pointed out that those who had earlier qualified for

accommodation or a resite but had refused it could still take up the offer.

/A reply