XN000022-1973-10-23 — Page 9

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Tuesday, October 23, 1973

INTERIM ARRANGEMENTS WITH SHOP TENANTS CLARIFIED

A Housing Department spokesman today pointed out that there were

certain inaccuracies in a newspaper report concerning a meeting held

yesterday between officers of the department and shop representatives.

"The shop tenants asked for a review of the present policy and in

order to facilitate the commencement of further discussion on the tenancy

agreement, the Housing Department agreed at the meeting to interim arrangements

for outstanding assignment cases to be dealt with", a spokesman said.

"It was agreed that until the terms of the new agreement had been

worked out, such shop tenants are permitted to assign their shops by

signing an agreement based on the previous conditions, but with the under-

standing that they would undertake to sign the new agreement when its terms

have been agreed upon by both parties concerned."

It is understood that comparatively only a small number of shop

tenants are affected by the temporary arrangements.

"It was also agreed at the meeting that further discussions should

be held between shop representatives and the Housing Department on the

terms of the shop tenancy agreement", the spokesman said.

No date has yet been fixed for the next meeting but it was agreed

that it should be held in a week or two.

The spokesman added that he hoped the temporary arrangement would

help solve the present dispute and that a new shop agreement acceptable

to both parties could be worked out in due course.

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