XN000022-1976-08-17 — Page 2

TUESDAY, AUGUST 17, 1976

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GOVERNMENT SCHEME TO HELP

SMALL SHOP OPERATORS AFFECTED BY MASS TRANSIT HOARDINGS

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THE GOVERNMENT HAS DRAWN UP A SPECIAL ADVANCE COMPENSATION SCHEME TO HELP SMALL BUSINESSMEN WHOSE TRADING IS AFFECTED BY MASS TRANSIT HOARDINGS PLACED OUTSIDE THEIR SHOPS.

+THE SCHEME IS DESIGNED TO HELP THE OPERATORS OF SMALL SHOPS AND OTHER LITTLE BUSINESSES WHO WOULD OTHERWISE FACE SERIOUS HARDSHIP BECAUSE OF REDUCED TURNOVER,+ SAID A SPOKESMAN FOR THE MASS TRANSIT STUDIES.

THE MAXIMUM MONTHLY ADVANCE PAYMENT WILL BE $7,500.

ABOUT 2,000 OPERATORS OF SMALL BUSINESSES WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR ADVANCE PAYMENTS MANY OF THEM WITH PREMISES FRONTING NATHAN ROAD.

OTHERS AFFECTED INCLUDE THE OPERATORS OF SOME SMALL SHOPS IN WONG TAI SIN AND, ON HONG KONG ISLAND, THE OPERATORS OF A FEW SHOPS

IN CHATER ROAD.

+PEOPLE ARE ELIGIBLE FOR ADVANCE COMPENSATION IF THE HOARDINGS OUTSIDE THEIR SHOPS ENCROACH ON THE FOOTPATH BY ONE THIRD OR MORE,+ SAID THE SPOKESMAN.

+THEY BECOME ELIGIBLE FROM THE TIME THE HOARDINGS GO UP UNTIL THEY COME DOWN.+

ALL ADVANCE COMPENSATION PAYMENTS WILL BE DEDUCTED FROM FINAL CLAIMS AWARDED TO THE OPERATORS UNDER THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY (LAND RESUMPTION AND RELATED PROVISIONS) ORDINANCE.

ADVANCE PAYMENTS WILL BE MADE ON A GRADUATED SCALE ACCORDING TO THE RATEABLE VALUE OF THE PROPERTY UP TO A MAXIMUM OF $7,500 A MONTH FOR PREMISES WITH A RATEABLE VALUE OF BETWEEN $100,000 AND $250,000.

BECAUSE THE SCHEME IS AIMED AT HELPING SMALL OPERATORS, NO ADVANCES ARE PLANNED FOR THE TIME BEING FOR BUSINESSES OCCUPYING PREMISES WITH A RATEABLE VALUE OF MORE THAN $250,000.

OTHER DETAILS OF THE ADVANCE COMPENSATION SCHEME ARE

*. THE PREMISES MUST BE USED FOR BUSINESS PURPOSES AND THE

APPLICATION FOR AN ADVANCE MUST BE FOR TRADING LOSSES- NO ADVANCES WILL BE MADE TO LANDLORDS FOR LOSS OF RENT-

* A BUSINESS CONCERNED IN A CLAIM MUST HAVE BEEN OPERATING

BEFORE THE STREET CLOSURE WAS GAZETTED-

*

THE APPLICANT MUST PRODUCE PROOF OF HIS RIGHT TO OCCUPY THE PREMISES-

* AN APPLICATION FOR AN ADVANCE MUST INCLUDE A STATEMENT THAT THE APPLICANT INTENDS TO CLAIM COMPENSATION UNDER THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY (LAND RESUMPTION AND RELATED PROVISIONS) ORDINANCE.

APPLICATION FORMS ARE AVAILABLE FROM CITY DISTRICT OFFICES.

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