XN000022-1976-05-19 — Page 4

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, 1976

MR. LEE TOLD THE CONFERENCE THAT THE ACTUAL NUMBER OF DRUG ADDICTS IN HONG KONG WAS NOT KNOWN, BUT THE FIGURE MOST COMMONLY USED IS 100,000.

+WE HAVE AS YET NOTHING TO SUPPORT THIS FIGURE, OR INDEED TO DENY IT. THE ONLY HARD FACTS WE HAVE ARE, FIRST, THAT IN OUR CENTRAL REGISTRY OF DRUG ADDICTS WHICH WAS STARTED SOME FOUR YEARS AGO, THERE ARE NOW APPROXIMATELY 31,000 UNDUPLICATED NAMES. AND ABOUT 80,000 RECORDS- SECOND, THERE ARE AT PRESENT SOME 10,000 ADDICTS UNDER SOME FORM OF TREATMENT, FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE DRUG ADDICTION TREATMENT CENTRES RUN BY THE PRISONS DEPARTMENT. IN THE VARIOUS PROGRAMMES RUN BY THE TWO VOLUNTARY AGENCIES (S.A.R.D.A. AND D.P.A.S.), OR UNDER TREATMENT IN THE METHADONE MAINTENANCE CLINICS RUN BY THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, OR IN AFTER-CARE, OR IN HALF-WAY HOUSES, HE SAID.

SHA TIN MARKET CLEARANCE TO TAKE PLACE ON JUNE 16

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THE GOVERNMENT HAS DECIDED TO BEGIN CLEARANCE OF 28 SHOPS AND RESTAURANTS IN SHA TIN MARKET ON JUNE 16, ́A SPOKESMAN FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION SAID TODAY.

+THERE IS NO CHANCE OF THIS DATE BEING CHANGED, HE SAID. +THE AREA IS REQUIRED FOR A MAJOR ROAD WIDENING PROJECT AND GOVERNMENT IS COMMITTED TO HANDING IT OVER TO THE CONTRACTOR BY THE BEGINNING OF JULY.+

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD ADEQUATELY RECOGNISED THE SPECIAL HISTROY AND NATURE OF THE BUSINESSES OPERATING IN SHA TIN MARKET AND HAD OFFERED +VERY FAIR TERMS+ TO THE 28 SHOPKEEPERS. THEY HAD BEEN GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE PART IN A TENDER FOR SHOPS SPECIALLY SET ASIDE FOR THEM IN LEK YUEN ESTATE, SHA TIN, AND THE GOVERNMENT HAD ALSO WAIVED THE $20,000 CEILING ON EX-GRATIA PAYMENTS.

+ IT IS REGRETTABLE, THEREFORE, THAT THE OPERATORS FAILED TO TURN UP FOR THE RESTRICTED TENDER ON MARCH 30 AND THAT THEY HAVE NOT YET BEEN TO THE DISTRICT OFFICE TO COLLECT THEIR EX-GRATIA PAYMENTS, AMOUNTING IN ONE CASE TO MORE THAN $100,000,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

HE ADDED THAT, WITH A FUTURE POPULATION OF 22,000 PEOPLE, THE BUSINESS POTENTIAL IN LEK YUEN ESTATE WAS BOUND TO BE GOOD. OTHER PEOPLE HAD RECOGNISED THIS BY TENDERING VERY HIGH SUMS FOR THE REMAINING SHOPS IN THE ESTATE. HE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT THE 28 OPERATORS HAD BEEN GIVEN THE RIGHT TO ASSIGN THEIR ESTATE SHOP IF THEY PREFERRED.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT ALL THE LAND ON WHICH THE BUSINESSES STOOD NOW BELONGED TO THE GOVERNMENT AND, ACCORDINGLY, DEMOLITION NOTICES HAD BEEN SERVED AT THE BEGINNING OF LAST MONTH. HE SAID: +WE HAVE OFFERED THE SHOPKEEPERS A VIABLE ALTERNATIVE TO THEIR PRESENT OPERATION AND HOPE THAT THEY WILL TAKE IT UP BEFORE CLEARANCE GETS UNDER WAY ON JUNE 16.+