XN000022-1975-09-25 — Page 3

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1975

NEW HOUSING COMPLEX AT TUEN MUN FOR 6,000

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A MODERN SELF-CONTAINED ESTATE COMPLEX WHICH WILL PR WIDE HOMES FOR SOME 6,000 PEOPLE IS TO BE BUILT AT SAM SHING HOT IN TUEN MUN, NEW TERRITORIES.

THE ESTATE WILL BE BUILT ON A SITE NOW OCCUPIED BY A SQUATTER SETTLEMENT OF ABOUT 2,700 PEOPLE.

THE SQUATTERS HAVE BEEN ASSURED BY MR. TONY BENNETT, DISTRICT OFFICER FOR TUEN MEN, THAT NONE OF THEM WILL BE MADE HOMELESS AS A RESULT OF THE NECESSARY CLEARANCE OF THE AREA TO ENABLE WORK ON THE ESTATE TO START.

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SQUATTERS IN THE AREA WHO ARE ELIGIBLE FOR PUBLIC HOUSING WILL BE OFFERED PUBLIC HOUSING IN MULTI-STOREY ESTATES IN TUEN MUN OR IN YUEN LONG, WHILE ELIGIBLE SHOPKEEPERS WILL RECEIVE CASH COMPENSATION WHICH MAY AMOUNT TO AS MUCH AS $20,000, DEPENDING ON THE SIZE OF THEIR SHOPS.

THE SHOPKEEPERS MAY EITHER CLAIM CASH COMPENSATION OR OPT FOR A TEMPORARY RESITE AREA ON THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY BE ALLOWED TO TAKE PART IN A RESTRICTED TENDER FOR SHOP SPACES IN NEW ESTATES, MR. BENNETT SAID.

THOSE SQUATTERS WHO ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR PUBLIC HOUSING WILL BE OFFERED TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATION AT RESITE AREAS, HE ADDED.

AT A MEETING WITH SQUATTER REPRESENTATIVES TODAY, MR. BENNETT ASSURED THEM THAT THEIR RIGHTS WOULD BE PROTECTED AND THAT ANY INCONVENIENCE WOULD BE KEPT TO THE MINIMUM.

HE SAID THAT WHILE MOST OF THE SQUATTERS SUPPORTED THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE AREA, HE APPRECIATED THAT SOME OF THEM WERE UNDERSTANDABLY CONCERNED AS TO HOW CLEARANCE AND REHOUSING ARRANGEMENTS WOULD AFFECT THEM.

FURTHER MEETINGS WILL BE HELD WITH THE SQUATTER REPRESENTATIVES TO KEEP THEM INFORMED ON THE ARRANGEMENTS BEING MADE.

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