XN000022-1974-06-10 — Page 4

MONDAY, JUNE 10, 1974

SQUATTERS ON CROWN LAND

FACE SIX MONTHS JAIL AND HEAVY FINE

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ACTION AGAINST SQUATTING ON CROWN LAND TOOK A NEW TURN LAST WEEK WHEN THE FIRST LEGAL CASE AGAINST THIS TYPE OF OFFENCE CAME UP IN COURT.

THE CASE WAS HEARD IN TSUEN WAN MAGISTRACY AND THE DEFENDANT WAS BOUND OVER FOR A SUM OF $2,500 AND IMPRISONMENT FOR SIX MONTHS FOR A PERIOD OF THREE YEARS.

THE CROWN LAND ORDINANCE UNDER WHICH THE DEFENDANT WAS SUMMONSED STIPULATES THAT FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH A NOTICE SERVED BY THE RIGHTFUL AUTHORITY TO CEASE OCCUPATION OF AN UNLEASED LAND BEFORE A GIVEN DATE CONSTITUTES AN OFFENCE AND IS LIABLE TO A MAXIMUM PENALTY OF A FINE OF $10,000 AND IMPRISONMENT FOR SIX MONTHS.

THE CASE INVOLVED FOUR WOODEN STRUCTURES ERECTED ON UNLEASED LAND ON SHEK LI HILL, TSUEN WAN. DEMOLITION ACTION HAD BEEN TAKEN BY THE THEN RESETTLEMENT DEPARTMENT AGAINST THESE STRUCTURES AS FAR BACK AS 1969.

BUT DESPITE REPEATED WARNINGS AND DEMOLITION THESE STRUCTURES WERE RE-ERECTED EACH TIME.

FINALLY IN OCTOBER LAST YEAR A SUMMONS WAS TAKEN OUT AGAINST THE DEFENDANT.

THE COURT RULED THAT THE DEFENDANT MUST HAVE ALL HIS PERSONAL BELONGINGS REMOVED FROM THESE STRUCTURES BY JUNE 21 AND HIS MERE PRESENCE ON THE SITE ON OR AFTER JUNE 22 WILL MEAN A BREACH OF THE BOND.

THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT WILL DEMOLISH THE ILLEGAL STRUCTURES THE FOLLOWING DAY.

SIR MURRAY LEAVES TONIGHT FOR BRITAIN *****

NOTE TO EDITORS:

THE GOVERNOR AND LADY MACLEHOSE WILL LEAVE BY AIR TONIGHT FOR A BRIEF VISIT TO BRITAIN. AS SIR MURRAY WILL BE DRIVING FROM GOVERNMENT HOUSE DIRECT TO THE TARMAC TO BOARD THE AIRCRAFT, NO FACILITIES ARE BEING ARRANGED FOR PRESS COVERAGE,

THE GOVERNOR, HOWEVER, HOPES TO MEET THE PRESS ON HIS RETURN TO HONG KONG, THIS MEETING WILL NOT BE AT THE AIRPORT BUT WILL TAKE PLACE AT GIS DURING THE WEEK FOLLOWING HIS RETURN.

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