XN000022-1976-07-28 — Page 4

WEDNESDAY, JULY 28, 1976

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TANNERIES GIVE UNDERTAKINGS ON REMOVAL

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MEMBERS OF FIVE CONSORTIA OPERATING 55 TANNERIES IN SHEUNG SHUI HAVE GIVEN THE GOVERNMENT A WRITTEN UNDERTAKING THAT THEY WILL HAVE CEASED OPERATING BY NEXT SATURDAY (JULY 31).

THEY HAVE ALSO ASSURED THE GOVERNMENT THAT ALL THE HEAVY MACHINERY USED IN THE FACTORIES WILL HAVE BEEN REMOVED NOT LATER THAN 8 A.M. ON AUGUST 3 THE FIRST WORKING DAY AFTER THE CLEARANCE DEADLINE SET BY GOVERNMENT.

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AT THE SAME TIME, THE GOVERNMENT HAS WARNED THE OPERATORS THAT ON AUGUST 3 IT WILL FORCIBLY CLEAR ANY TANNERY WHICH DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE AGREEMENT.

ANNOUNCING THIS TODAY, THE DISTRICT OFFICER TAI PO,

MR. CLIVE OXLEY, SAID THE UNDERTAKINGS GIVEN BY THE OPERATORS WERE SENSIBLE AND REALISTIC CLIMAX TO THE GOVERNMENT'S DECISION TO MOVE THE TANNERIES TO THE OFFENSIVE TRADES ZONE AT KWA CHUNG AFTER JULY 31.

+MANY OF THE TANNERS HAVE ALREADY PACKED UP MUCH OF THEIR HEAVY EQUIPMENT AND HAVE TAKEN IT TO KWAI CHUNG WHERE THEY ARE STORING IT ON A TEMPORARY BASIS WITH OUR PERMISSION,+ HE SAID.

+MANY OF THE STRUCTURES AT SHEUNG SHUI ARE ALSO BEING DEMOLISHED BY THE OPERATORS THEMSELVES.

+THOSE WHO HAVE NOT STARTED DOING THIS HAVE TOLD US THAT THEY WILL BE GETTING ON WITH IT IN SUFFICIENT TIME TO MEET THE DEADLINE.

+THE MOST IMPORTANT POINTS OF THE AGREEMENT ARE THAT THE TANNERIES WILL HAVE CEASED OPERATING BY THE DEADLINE DAY AND WILL HAVE REMOVED THEIR HEAVY MACHINERY BY THE FIRST WORKING DAY AFTER THAT, WHICH HAPPENS TO FALL ON AUGUST 3 BECAUSE OF THE PUBLIC HOLIDAY NEXT MONDAY.

→BUILT INTO THE AGREEMENT IS THE CONDITIONAL CLAUSE THAT THE GOVERNMENT WILL FORCIBLY CLEAR ANY INDIVIDUAL TANNERY ON THAT DAY WHICH HAS NOT MET WITH THE AGREEMENT CONDITIONS.

+AFTER THE REMOVAL OF THE MACHNIERY ALL THAT REMAINS TO BE DONE IS FOR THE OPERATORS TO REMOVE THEIR STOCK, SMALLER EQUIPMENT AND PERSONAL POSSESSIONS AND TO FINISH DEMOLISHING THEIR STRUCTURES.

+AT THEIR REQUEST WE WILL ALLOW THEM TO DO THIS BUT WE HAVE TOLD THEM THAT THE SITES MUST BE ABSOLUTELY CLEAR TO OUR SATISFACTION BY AUGUST 20, OTHERWISE THE GOVERNMENT WILL MOVE IN AND DO IT AND CHARGE THE COST TO THE OFFENDING OPERATOR.

+BUT OBVIOUSLY IT IS MUCH BETTER FOR ALL CONCERNED IF THE TANNERY OPERATORS COMPLETE THE CLEARANCE THEMSELVES.

+FROM THE GOVERNMENT'S POINT OF VIEW, THIS SAVES A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF TIME, MONEY AND MANPOWER.+