XN000022-1976-08-18 — Page 3

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 18, 1976

SEVENTEEN TENANTS COLLECT

ADVANCE EX-GRATIA COMPENSATION

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SEVENTEEN DOMESTIC TENANTS OF TAI ON MANSION AND A NEARBY BUILDING IN SAI YEUNG CHOI STREET, SHAMSHUIPO, HAVING SIGNED AGREEMENTS TO MOVE OUT, HAVE COLLECTED A TOTAL OF $50,104 IN ADVANCE EX-GRATIA COMPENSATION PAYMENTS FROM THE GOVERNMENT TO HELP WITH REMOVAL EXPENSES.

IN ADDITION TO THE EX-GRATIA COMPENSATION, ALL ELIGIBLE DOMESTIC TENANTS FROM THESE BUILDINGS ARE BEING OFFERED PUBLIC HOUSING.

BOTH BUILDINGS HAVE TO BE VACATED BY SEPTEMBER 1 TO MAKE WAY FOR TUNNELLING WORKS FOR THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY: THE EX-GRATIA COMPENSATION SCHEME FOR TENANTS OF POST-WAR BUILDINGS RESUMED FOR ESSENTIAL PUBLIC PURPOSES CAME INTO FORCE IN JUNE THIS YEAR.

+AS PART OF THE SCHEME, ADVANCE PAYMENTS OF 50 PER CENT OF THE EX-GRATIA COMPENSATION ARE MADE WHEN TENANTS SIGN AGREEMENTS TO LEAVE THE PREMISES, TO HELP THEM WITH REMOVAL EXPENSES.

+THE BALANCE IS PAID AFTER THEY VACATE THE PREMISES.+

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT EX-GRATIA COMPENSATION PAYMENTS FOR DOMESTIC TENANTS WERE COMPUTED AT ABOUT $20 PER SQUARE FOOT OF LIVING SPACE, AND AT REDUCED RATES FOR KITCHENS, BATHROOMS, TOILETS, BALCONIES AND PASSAGEWAYS.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE EX-GRATIA PAYMENTS TO THE 17 TENANTS OF TAI ON MANSION AND SAI YEUNG CHOI STREET RANGED UP TO AS MUCH AS $11,514 AND AVERAGED MORE THAN $5,000 TO EACH DOMESTIC TENANT.

+MORE CHEQUES FOR PEOPLE IN BOTH BUILDINGS WILL BE GOING OUT IN THE NEXT WEEK OR SO AS MORE TENANTS SIGN AGREEMENTS TO MOVE OUT,+ THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.

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