XN000022-1974-09-17 — Page 7

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1974

CHEUNG SHA WAN LICENSED AREA TO BE IMPROVED

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THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT IS TO CARRY OUT A NUMBER OF IMPROVEMENTS TO AREA ''C'' OF CHEUNG SHA WAN LICENSED AREA TO PROVIDE BETTER LIVING CONDITIONS FOR THE RESIDENTS.

THE IMPROVEMENTS WERE LISTED IN THE REPLY TO THE RESIDENTS' LATEST PETITION WHICH WAS HANDED TO THEM THIS (TUESDAY) AFTERNOON.

MR. IAN LIGHTBODY, SECRETARY FOR HOUSING, SAID IN THE REPLY THAT THE IMPROVEMENTS WOULD INCLUDE THE CONCRETING OF THE TWO MAIN ROADS THROUGH THE LICENSED AREA AND THE SURFACING OF AN OPEN SPACE NEARBY FOR CHILDREN TO PLAY.

HE ADDED THAT ANY DEFECTS IN THE STORMWATER DRAINS INSTALLED BY THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE REPAIRED AND AN ADDITIONAL FIRE EXIT WILL BE PROVIDED.

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REFERRING TO THE RESIDENTS' REQUEST FOR EARLY REHOUSING, MR. LIGHTBODY SAID IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE FOR THE DEPARTMENT TO OFFER THEM IMMEDIATE REHOUSING SINCE THIS WOULD BE MOST UNFAIR TO THE 8,000-ODD PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN LIVING IN KOWLOON LICENSED AREAS FOR A MUCH LONGER PERIOD THAN THE GROUP.

HOWEVER, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE DEPARTMENT TO OFFER THEM PUBLIC HOUSING IN KWAI CHUNG BY THE END OF 1975 PROVIDED THAT THERE WILL BE NO UNFORESEEN DELAY TO THE HOUSING PROGRAMME.

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MR. LIGHTBODY SAID: THE ESTATE BLOCKS TO WHICH YOU WILL MOVE ARE NOW BEING BUILT IN KWAI CHUNG, BUT IF SOME UNFORESEEN EVENT OCCURS TO DELAY COMPLETION THEN THE ALLOCATION DATE WILL SIMILARLY BE DELAYED.+

HE EXPLAINED THAT ANY PROMISE MADE BY THE HOUSING AUTHORITY TO ALLOCATE HOUSING TO ANY PARTY BY A CERTAIN DATE IS ALWAYS SUBJECT TO SUCH A RESERVATION.

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