XN000022-1975-07-29 — Page 3

TUESDAY, JULY 29, 1975

BONA FIDE SHA TIN HOI FISHERMEN COMPENSATED

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COMPLAINTS OF ALL FISHERMEN WHO CLAIMED TO BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY THE RECLAMATION PROJECTS AT SHA TIN HOI HAVE BEEN INVESTIGATED AND COMPENSATION HAS ALREADY BEEN PAID OUT TO THOSE WITH VALID CLAIMS.

THIS WAS STATED TODAY BY A SPOKESMAN FOR THE SHA TIN DISTRICT OFFICE WHEN COMMENTING ON PRESS REPORTS OF COMPLAINTS MADE BY SOME FISHERMEN YESTERDAY,

THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT THE SHA TIN DISTRICT OFFICER HAS NEVER PROMISED AS REPORTED IN SOME NEWSPAPERS TO COMPENSATE THOSE FISHERMEN WHO WERE INVOLVED IN YESTERDAY'S INCIDENT AT SHA TIN HOI.

HE SAID: +INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE CLAIMS OF THIS GROUP OF FISHERMEN ESTABLISHED THAT THEY ARE ACTUALLY BASED IN THE TAI PO AREA. THEIR LIVELIHOOD HAS NOT DEEN SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECTED BY THE PROJECTS. THEREFORE, THEY HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THEIR CLAIMS CANNOT BE ENTERTAINED.+

THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT FOLLOWING THE FISHERMEN'S PETITIONS TO THE UMELCO OFFICE AND OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, FURTHER INVESTIGATIONS WERE CARRIED OUT BUT THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE TO WARRANT THE CHANGE OF THE PREVIOUS DECISION.

THESE FISHERMEN HAVE SINCE JULY 22 CAUSED SOME OBSTRUCTIONS TO WORKS ON THE SEAWALL. POLICE WERE CALLED IN YESTERDAY BY THE CONTRACTORS TO CLEAR THE AREA SO THAT WORKS COULD DE CARRIED OUT AS SCHEDULED.

THE SPOKESMAN WARNED THAT ANY FURTHER ACTION TO IMPEDE THE PROGRESS OF THE RECLAMATION WORKS WOULD BE DEALT WITH SWIFTLY AND FIRMLY.

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