XN000022-1975-07-10 — Page 3

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THURSDAY, JULY 10, 1975

SHEUNG SHUI TANNERY OPERATORS MUST STICK TO

REMOVAL TIME TABLE

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THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES HAS INFORMED THE OPERATORS OF THE SHEUNG SHUI TANNERIES THAT THEIR REQUEST FOR A ONE YEAR EXTENSION TO THE PERIOD ALLOWED FOR THE REMOVAL OF THE TANNERIES TO KWAI CHUNG CANNOT BE GRANTED.

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IN HIS LETTER INFORMING THE TANNERY OPERATORS OF THIS DECISION, THE SECRETARY REMINDED THE TANNERY OPERATORS THAT WHEN IT WAS AGREED IN 1972 TO ALLOW THE TANNERIES TO CONTINUE TO OPERATE TEMPORARILY AT SHEUNG SHUI, IT WAS CLEARLY STATED THAT THIS WAS SUBJECT TO THEIR MOVING TO KWAI CHUNG IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TIMEABLE LAID DOWN.

THIS TIMEABLE REQUIRES THE TANNERIES TO COMPLETE THE MOVE TO THEIR NEW PREMISES NOT LATER THAN JULY 31 1976.

THE LETTER ALSO OFFERED TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE TANNERY OPERATORS TO MEET THE OFFICERS CONCERNED IN THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT TO ENABLE THEM TO OBTAIN EXPERT ADVICE ON THE PROBLEMS INVOLVED IN THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW TANNERIES.

THE DISTRICT OFFICER, TAI PO, WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE TO ADVISE THE OPERATORS IN THEIR EFFORTS TO COMPLY WITH THE TIMEABLE.'

NEW MAXI-CAB SERVICE FOR SHOUSON HILL RESIDENTS

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ABOUT 2,500 RESIDENTS OF YAU MA HOM LICENSED AREA HAVE

MOVED INTO PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES IN TSUEN WAN TO MAKE WAY FOR THE RE-DEVELOPMENT OF THE SITE INTO AN IMPROVED-TYPE LICENSED AREA.

ANOTHER 1,000 PEOPLE THERE HAVE BEEN OFFERED LICENSED AREA SITES AT SHEK YAM.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT SAID THAT ABOUT 95 PER CENT OF THE 3,500 RESIDENTS THERE HAVE ALREADY MOVED OUT.

+THE SMALL NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO STILL REMAIN ARE TRYING TO GET A BETTER OFFER FROM THE DEPARTMENT, HE SAID.

+HOWEVER,+ HE ADDED, +WE CANNOT ACCEDE TO THEIR DEMANDS BECAUSE OUR OFFERS ARE REASONABLE AND FAIR.

+ALL GENUINE OCCUPANTS OF AUTHORISED STRUCTURES HAD BEEN OFFERED PUBLIC HOUSING AND THOSE WHO LIVED IN ILLEGAL HUTS HAD BEEN ALLOCATED LICENSED AREA SITES.

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+THIS MINORITY GROUP OF PEOPLE PRESSING FOR THEIR DEMANDS ARE EITHER OCCUPANTS OF ILLEGAL HUTS OR NON-RESIDENTS OF THE AREA.+

THE YAU MA HOM LICENSED AREA WAS OPENED IN JANUARY 1971 AND IS DUE TO BE CLEARED IN A WEEK'S TIME FOR THE RE-DEVELOPMENT SCHEME.

HOUSING DEPARTMENT STAFF CARRIED OUT A DETAILED SCREENING OF THE AREA IN FEBRUARY AND MARCH THIS YEAR AND THE RESIDENTS WERE INFORMED OF THE DEPARTMENT'S INTENTION TO CLEAR THE PLACE LAST MAY.

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