XN000022-1976-08-23 — Page 5

MONDAY, AUGUST 23, 1976

TAI ON SHOPKEEPERS GET +HIDDEN SUBSIDY+

OF $73,000 IN UNPAID RENTS AND RATES

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SHOP OPERATORS IN TAI ON MANSION, SHAM SHUI PO, ARE GETTING A +HIDDEN SUBSIDY+ OF AT LEAST $73,000 IN UNPAID RENTS AND RATES NOT ONE CENT OF WHICH HAS BEEN CHARGED SINCE THE PROPERTY REVERTED TO THE CROWN ON APRIL 13 THIS YEAR.

THIS WAS POINTED OUT TODAY TO FOUR REPRESENTATIVES OF THE SEVEN AFFECTED SHOPKEEPERS, WHO WENT TO THE COLONIAL SECRETARIAT TO ASK FOR REPROVISIONING OF SHOPS, HIGHER COMPENSATION AND A POSTPONEMENT OF THE CLEARANCE.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID AFTER THE MEETING: +THE SHOPKEEPERS WERE ASSURED THAT THEIR CLAIMS FOR EXTRA COMPENSATION WOULD BE FAVOURABLY CONSIDERED PROVIDED THE CLAIMS WERE ADEQUATELY SUBSTANTIATED.

+HOWEVER IT WAS POINTED OUT THAT ONE SHOP OPERATOR PAYING $7,500 A MONTH RENT UNTIL APRIL 13 WILL HAVE HAD A WINDFALL OF MORE THAN $33,000 IN UNPAID RENT BY AUGUST 31, WHEN THE PREMISES MUST BE VACATED TO MAKE WAY FOR ESSENTIAL TUNNELLING WORKS FOR THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY.

+ALSO, IT WAS POINTED OUT, OTHER SHOP OPERATORS ARE GETTING NO-RENT 'BONUSES' RANGING BETWEEN $18,000 AND, FOR THE SMALLEST OPERATOR, ALMOST $6,000.

THE SHOPKEEPERS' REPRESENTATIVES WERE REMINDED THAT THESE UNPAID RENTS AND RATES TOTALLING AT LEAST $73,000 HAD TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT BY THEM AS WELL AS THE TOTAL OF $137,632 OFFERED TO THEM IN EX GRATIA COMPENSATION.

THEY WERE ALSO REMINDED THAT THEY WERE ENTITLED TO MAKE CLAIMS FOR REMOVAL EXPENSES, TEMPORARY LOSS OF PROFITS AND THE VALUE OF SHOP FITTINGS AT THE TIME OF VACATING THE PREMISES, AND THAT WHERE SUCH SUCCESSFUL CLAIMS EXCEEDED THE AMOUNT OF EX GRATIA COMPENSATION PAID, THE GOVERNMENT WOULD MAKE UP THE BALANCE TO THE SHOPKEEPER.

ALSO THEY WERE TOLD THAT THEY WOULD GET ASSISTANCE IN LODGING APPEALS TO THE LANDS TRIBUNAL, AND IF THE TRIBUNAL'S INDEPENDENTLY-GIVEN RULING ON OVERA COMPENSATION EXCEEDED THE GOVERNMENT'S TOTAL OFFER, THE GOVERNMENT WOULD MAKE UP THE BALANCE.

IT WAS ALSO EXPLAINED THAT THE EX-GRATIA COMPENSATION SCHEME UNDER WHICH THE SHOPKEEPERS WERE RECEIVING SUCH HELP HAD BEEN INTRODUCED ONLY LAST JUNE AND THAT THEY WERE THE FIRST COMMERCIAL GROUP TO RECEIVE SUCH AID, WHICH APPLIES TO COMMERCIAL TENANTS OF POST-WAR BUILDINGS WHICH MUST MAKE WAY FOR ESSENTIAL PUBLIC WORKS.

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THE SPOKESMAN