XN000022-1976-08-08 — Page 4

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 8, 1976

NO POSTPONEMENT OF TWO BUILDING

RESUMPTIONS NEEDED FOR MTR

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A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY THAT THERE WOULD DEFINITELY BE NO POSTPONEMENT OF THE RESUMPTIONS OF TAI ON MANSION, AT 2-4 TAI PO ROAD, OR A NEARBY BUILDING AT 205-205A SAI YEUNG CHOI STREET, BOTH OF WHICH MUST BE DEMOLISHED TO ALLOW TUNNELLING WORKS FOR THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY.

+BOTH BUILDINGS MUST BE VACATED BY SEPTEMBER 1 AND PREPARATIONS HAVE BEEN MADE TO CLEAR THEM EARLY IN SEPTEMBER, SAID THE SPOKESMAN.

+ IT IS REGRETTABLE THAT THE BUILDINGS MUST COME DOWN AND THAT EXTENSIONS CANNOT BE GRANTED. HOWEVER, THE GOVERNMENT IS DOING EVERYTHING IT CAN TO HELP THE DOMESTIC TENANTS, OWNER- OCCUPIERS AND COMMERCIAL TENANTS CONCERNED.+

HE OUTLINED THIS ASSISTANCE AS FOLLOWS:

FOR DOMESTIC TENANTS:

EX-GRATIA COMPENSATION OF ABOUT $20 PER SQUARE FOOT OF LIVING SPACE OCCUPIED, AND SLIGHTLY LESSER FOR KITCHENS. BATHROOMS, TOILETS, CORRIDORS ETC HALF OF THIS MONEY TO BE PAID IN ADVANCE, WHEN THE TENANTS SIGN AGREEMENTS TO LEAVE, AND THE BALANCE AFTER THEY LEAVE THE PREMISES. IN ADDITION ALL ELIGIBLE TENANTS ARE BEING OFFERED RE-HOUSING.

FOR COMMERCIAL TENANTS :

EX-GRATIA COMPENSATION OF ABOUT $40 PER SQUARE FOOT OF THE SHOP OR OTHER COMMERCIAL PREMISES CONCERNED, AGAIN WITH HALF THE AMOUNT BEING PAID IN ADVANCE ON THE TENANT SIGNING AN AGREEMENT TO LEAVE, AND THE BALANCE AFTER THEY HAVE VACATED THE PREMISES.

FOR DOMESTIC OWNER-OCCUPANTS :

REIMBURSEMENT AT CURRENT MARKET VALUE OF THEIR PREMISES, DEPENDING ON THEIR SIZE. AS WITH THE OTHER TWO CATEGORIES PAYMENTS WILL BE MADE IN TWO LUMP SUMS, ON SIGNING AN AGREEMENT - TO LEAVE AND ON ACTUALLY LEAVING. ALSO, ELIGIBLE OWNER-

OCCUPANTS ARE BEING OFFERED RE-HOUSING.

THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT THE TUNNEL WILL GO BENEATH THE TWO BUILDINGS AND THE DEMOLITION OF BOTH IS ABSOLUTELY UNAVOIDABLE.

+THE CLEARANCE OF THE BUILDINGS AND THEIR DEMOLITION IS TIED IN CLOSELY WITH CONTRACTS FOR THE TUNNELLING ON THE SITE, WHICH MUST BEGIN ON TIME, SAID THE SPOKESMAN,

/+FOR