XN000022-1974-10-15 — Page 11

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1974

KOWLOON BAY CLEARANCE COMPLETED

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SQUATTER CONTROL STAFF OF THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT TODAY CLEARED ABOUT 25 ACRES OF LAND ON THE KOWLOON BAY RECLAMATION. WHERE RACKETEERS HAD BEEN EXTREMELY ACTIVE IN BUILDING ILLEGAL SQUATTER HUTS FOR SALE.

THE LAND CLEARED IS BEING HANDED OVER TO THE CROWN LANDS AND SURVEY OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT. PART OF THE AREA WILL BE USED AS A WORK SITE FOR THE MASS TRANSIT SYSTEM AND THE REMAINDER FOR ROADWORKS AND GENERAL INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT.

THE CLEARANCE INVOLVED NEARLY 400 ILLEGAL SQUATTER HUTS. HOWEVER, THE MAJORITY OF THEM HAD ALREADY BEEN DEMOLISHED BY THE OCCUPANTS AND HOUSING DEPARTMENT STAFF HAD TO DEMOLISH ONLY 53 ILLEGAL STRUCTURES.

THE CLEARANCE WAS COMPLETED VERY SMOOTHLY AND 18 FAMILIES · WHO FAILED TO MOVE OUT IN TIME WERE HELPED TO DO SO. THEY WERE TAKEN TO WONG CHUK HANG TRANSIT CENTRE BY DEPARTMENTAL TRANSPORT.

A TOTAL OF 241 FAMILIES COMPRISING 918 PEOPLE WHO WERE REGISTERED BY THE DEPARTMENT IN AUGUST HAVE MOVED INTO THEIR HOMES AT THE NEW SHEK YAM LICENSED AREA.

ALL THOSE WHO WERE OFFERED TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATION AT WONG CHUK HANG TRANSIT CENTRE TODAY HAD ONLY MOVED INTO KOWLOON BAY VERY RECENTLY. IT IS APPARENT THAT THESE PEOPLE BOUGHT THEIR ILLEGAL HUTS FROM RACKETEERS AFTER THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT HAD COMPLETED ITS SURVEYED REGISTRATION OF THE AREA.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT URGED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC NOT TO BUY HUTS FROM THE RACKETEERS OR THEY WOULD SUFFER UNNECESSARY LOSSES.

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