XN000022-1976-08-17 — Page 4

TUESDAY, AUGUST 17, 1976

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GOVERNMENT GIVES DETAILS OF OFFERS TO COMMERCIAL

TENANTS AND OWNER-OCCUPIERS IN TAI ON MANSION

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A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN TODAY GAVE THE FOLLOWING DETAILS OF OFFERS MADE TO COMMERCIAL TENANTS AND OWNER-OCCUPIERS OF PREMISES IN TAI ON MANSION, SHAM SHUI PO, WHICH MUST BE VACATED BY SEPTEMBER 1 TO ENABLE TUNNELLING FOR THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY TO TAKE PLACE SAFELY:

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THE SEVEN COMMERCIAL TENANTS HAVE BEEN OFFERED A TOTAL OF $137,632 IN EX-GRATIA COMPENSATION.

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THE 39 OWNER-OCCUPIERS HAVE BEEN OFFERED $3,601,000 FOR THE IR FLATS. THIS FIGURE INCORPORATES NEW OFFERS MADE TODAY TO 36 OF THE OWNER-OCCUPIERS. BASED ON FRESH EVIDENCE SUBMITTED BY THE OWNERS' REPRESENTATIVES.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID: THE OFFERS OF EX-GRATIA COMPENSATION TOTALLING $137,632 MADE TO THE SEVEN COMMERCIAL TENANTS HAVE BEEN CALCULATED AT A RATE OF $40 PER SQUARE FOOT FOR THOSE PARTS OF EACH COMMERCIAL PREMISES BEING USED FOR BUSINESS PURPOSES, AND AT LESSER RATES FOR STOREROOMS, BATHROOMS AND THE LIKE.

+ IF THEY ACCEPT THE EX-GRATIA OFFER THEN THE GOVERNMENT WILL PAY 50 PER CENT ON THE TENANT SIGNING THE AGREEMENT AND THE BALANCE WHEN HE VACATES THE PREMISES.

+THE COMMERCIAL TENANTS ARE ALSO ENTITLED TO MAKE STATUTORY CLAIMS COVERING A WIDE RANGE OF ITEMS SUCH AS REMOVAL EXPENSES, TEMPORARY LOSS OF PROFITS AND THE VALUE OF SHOP FITTINGS AS THEY STAND AT THE PRESENT.

+IN ADDITION, IF ANY SHOP OPERATOR INTENDS TO CLOSE DOWN HIS BUSINESS AND NOT RE-OPEN IN OTHER PREMISES, THEN THE OPERATOR IS ENTITLED TO MAKE A STATUTORY CLAIM FOR LOSSES BECAUSE OF FORCED SALE OF MERCHANDISE AND SHOP EQUIPMENT.

+SUCH A STATUTORY CLAIM WOULD ALSO INCLUDE REDUNDANCY PAY, AT RATES DEFINED UNDER THE LABOUR ORDINANCE, FOR ANY EMPLOYEES OF SUCH A BUSINESS WHO HAD TO BE LAID OFF.+

SUCH STATUTORY CLAIMS, SAID THE SPOKESMAN, WOULD HAVE TO BE SUPPORTED BY SATISFACTORY EVIDENCE.

IN CASES WHERE SUCCESSFUL STATUTORY CLAIMS EXCEEDED THE AMOUNT OF EX-GRATIA COMPENSATION PAID, THE GOVERNMENT WOULD MAKE UP THE BALANCE TO THE OPERATOR.

IN ONE CASE, HE ADDED, A SHOP OPERATOR WAS ARRANGING TO MOVE TO OTHER PRÉMISES BUT COULD NOT OCCUPY THEM FOR SIX MONTHS. IN THIS CASE, THE GOVERNMENT WOULD REIMBURSE HIM FOR THE STORAGE OF HIS STOCK AND GOODS FOR SIX MONTHS UNTIL HE RE-STARTED OPERATIONS,

CONCERNING THE NEW OFFERS MADE TODAY TO 36 OF THE 39 OWNER- OCCUPIERS OF TAI ON MANSION, THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THESE VARIED BETWEEN $215 AND $240 PER SQUARE FOOT OF THE FLATS' AREA.

THE INCREASES