XN000022-1973-12-22 — Page 2

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Saturday, December 22, 1973

SECRETARY FOR HOUSING DENOUNCES SHOPKEEPER INTIMIDATION

Mr. Ian Lightbody, Secretary for Housing today (Saturday) denounced

recent attempts to intimidate shop representatives who had discussed new

shop tenancy terms with the Housing Department.

There had been several reports of intimidation since Friday when

the new shop tenancy terms were announced, he said, and these had been

brought to the attention of the Police for necessary action. Shop tenants

who felt they were being threatened should inform the Police or Housing

Department officers.

Mr. Lightbody said that during the two months since he met shop

tenants' representatives the Housing Department had spared no effort to

ascertain the views of shopkeepers both by direct contact and through the

association set up to represent the shop tenants.

He went on: "As a result of these very useful meetings new shop

tenancy terms have been worked out which I believe are very resonable and

should be acceptable to tenants.11

Mr. Lightbody said that a group of shopkeepers had claimed that the

new terms in some way threatened their continued security of tenure.

He stressed that this was completely unfounded; the Housing Authority

had no intention of terminating any shop tenancies unless (as has always

been the case) the tenant persistently disregarded the tenancy conditions.

All co-operative shop tenants were completely secure in their tenancies.

proper agreement of the sort prepared is necessary to make clear the rights

and delegations

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