XN000022-1976-04-08 — Page 6

5.

Thursday, April 8, 1976

A spokesman for the New Territories Administration said that, although

these shops had been in existence for some time they were nonetheless in

temporary buildings, which had been erected some years ago on agricultural

land. "They were set up to provide temporary shopping facilities for the

residents of Sha Tin," the spokesman said, "but a New Town provided much

needed housing is now being developed and all temporary huts in the area

will eventually have to be cleared."

however, he added, because the operators of shops and restaurants

in Sha Tin market had been running successful businesses for such a long time,

specil arrangements had been made by the Government to enable them to tender

for shops in the modern commercial complex in Lek Yuen Estate.

"Recently, the Housing Authority invited tender applications for

Lek Yuen Estate shops, other than those put aside for the shopkeepers to be

cleared from Sha Tin market, and considerable interest was shown," the spokes-

man said. "We think therefore that the Housing Authority, by agreeing to

reserve units for these shopkeepers, has provided them with an oxcellent

opportunity to continue in business profitably and to benefit from the growth

of the town. In addition, because of the size of some of the shops to be

cleared, the Government has agreed to waive altogether the normal ceiling

of w20,000 for ex-gratia payments."

A great deal of clearance on both sides of the market area has

already taken place in connection with the widening of Tai Po koad,

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