XN000022-1976-06-18 — Page 8

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FRIDAY, JUNE 18, 1976

LAND TO BE RESUMED FOR MTR CONSTRUCTION

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THE OWNERS AND TENANTS OF 308 308A NATHAN ROAD ARE BEING ADVISED TODAY THAT GOVERNMENT WILL SHORTLY BE INSTITUTING STATUTORY RESUMPTION PROCEEDINGS UNDER THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY (LAND RESUMPTION AND RELATED PROVISIONS) ORDINANCE IN ORDER TO ACQUIRE THE LAND ON WHICH THEIR BUILDINGS STAND FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE MTR.

ADVISORY NOTICES ARE BEING POSTED TO NON-RESIDENT OWNERS OF THE BUILDINGS CONCERNED WHILE STAFF OF THE CITY DISTRICT OFFICE, YAU MA TEI, ARE NOW VISITING THE OCCUPANTS OF THE BUILDINGS TO PERSONALLY HAND OVER THE ADVISORY NOTICES TO THEM.

THE ADVISORY NOTICE SAYS THAT STATUTORY RESUMPTION NOTICES, SIGNIFYING THE BEGINNING OF RESUMPTION PROCEEDINGS, WILL BE POSTED ON THE BUILDINGS ON JULY 2, 1976, AND THAT ON SEPTEMBER 3, 1976, TWO MONTHS AFTER THE POSTING OF THESE NOTICES, THE PROPERTIES WILL REVERT TO THE CROWN.

THE OWNERS AND OCCUPANTS ARE BEING ADVISED THAT UNDER THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY (LAND RESUMPTION AND RELATED PROVISIONS) ORDINANCE, ANYONE WHO HAS ANY CLAIM FOR COMPENSATION CAN FILÉ HIS CLAIM DIRECT WITH THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS WHO MAY SETTLE IT ADMINISTRATIVELY WITHOUT RECOURSE TO THE LANDS TRIBUNAL.

HOWEVER, IF AT THE END OF FOUR MONTHS FROM THE RECEIPT OF A CLAIM BY THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS IT HAS NOT BEEN POSSIBLE TO SETTLE THE CLAIM, THE CLAIMANT CAN SEEK SETTLEMENT THROUGH PROCEEDINGS WITH THE LANDS TRIBUNAL.

SINCE THE BUILDINGS ARE ALL POST-WAR, TENANTS WILL BE ENTITLED TO THE NEW COMPENSATION PAYMENTS ANNOUNCED RECENTLY BY THE GOVERNMENT FOR TENANTS OF POST-WAR BUILDINGS RESUMED FOR ESSENTIAL PUBLIC WORKS OR FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY.

DOMESTIC TENANTS WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR ADVANCE COMPENSATION OF 50 PER CENT OF THE FULL AMOUNT ON SIGNING AN AGREEMENT TO MOVE FROM THEIR PREMISES, WITH THE BALANCE TO BE PAID AFTER THEY LEAVE.

THE SAME BENEFITS WILL BE AVAILABLE TO COMMERCIAL TENANTS BUT DOMESTIC TENANTS WILL ALSO BE ELIGIBLE FOR RE-HOUSING. THOSE INELIGIBLE, PROVIDED THEY ARE HOMELESS UPON CLEARANCE, WILL BE OFFERED SPACE IN A LICENSED AREA.

THE OWNERS AND TENANTS ARE ALSO BEING ADVISED THAT IN ORDER TO ASSIST ALL INTERESTED PARTIES, MEETINGS WILL BE ARRANGED BY STAFF OF THE MASS TRANSIT STUDIES OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT TO EXPLAIN TO THEM CLAIMS PROCEDURES AND THEIR STATUTORY RIGHTS. THESE MEETINGS WILL BE HELD SHORTLY.

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