XN000022-1973-09-28 — Page 6

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Friday, September 28, 1973

NEW HOMES FOR DISPLACED VILLAGERS

More than $50 million is being spent by the government on providing

new homes and compensation for 96 families who will be displaced by the

High Island water scheme.

Announcing this today, Mr. Clive Oxley, District Officer, Sai Kung,

said that the affected villagers would be re-accommodated on a choice site

at Sai Kung Town in a modern community complex specially designed to meet

their specific needs.

Of the total sum involved, an estimated $39 million is being

used to provide new homes, shops, schools, seven ancestral halls and A

burial ground.

In addition, $12.6 million will be paid out as compensation for

the loss of buildings, farmlands and crops.

The land at present occupied by the villagers is essential for

development of the High Island water scheme which will provide 60,000

million gallons of water to meet Hong Kong's future needs,

Close consultation with the villagers has been in progress since

the early planning stages of the scheme, and the importance of meeting

a tight construction schedule has been strongly emphasised.

Resumption notices will be posted early next week as formal notice

that the land involved will revert to the Crown on January 1 next year.

Special arrangements have been made to allow for the villagers

to remove their ancestral temples to a now site near Sai Kung Town on a day

which they have singled out as being particularly propitious.

/Compensation

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