XN000022-1976-08-26 — Page 2

THURSDAY, AUGUST 26, 1976

GOVERNMENT CASH RELIEF FOR SAU MAU PING RESIDENTS *****

TENANTS OF BLOCKS 9 AND 15 OF SAU MAU PING ESTATE WHOSE HOMES WERE AFFECTED BY THE MUDSLIDE BROUGHT ON BY THE HEAVY RAINS YESTERDAY, ARE TO BE GIVEN GRANTS FROM THE EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND (ERF) BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT TO RE-ESTABLISH THEMSELVES.

THE GRANTS WILL BE $1,500 PER HOUSEHOLD FOR REDECORATION PURPOSES AND $200 PER PERSON FOR REMOVAL AND RE-EQUIPMENT. FOR AN AVERAGE FAMILY OF FIVE THE TOTAL GRANTS WOULD AMOUNT TO $2,500.

SOCIAL WORKERS FROM THE DEPARTMENT ARE ALSO CONTACTING RELATIVES OF THE INJURED IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THEM WITH FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WHICH WILL RANGE FROM $120 UP TO $3,600 DEPENDING ON HOW LONG THEY HAVE TO STAY IN HOSPITAL.

IN ADDITION, BURIAL GRANTS OF $1,100 EACH WILL BE MADE TO RELATIVES OF THOSE WHO DIED IN THE TRAGEDY. THE RELATIVES THEMSELVES WILL ALSO RECEIVE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE RANGING FROM $4,700 TO $14,300, DEPENDING ON WHETHER IT WAS THE SOLE WAGE EARNER WHO DIED AND ON THE NUMBER OF DEPENDANTS.

FURTHERMORE, THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT WILL BE LOOKING INTO THE QUESTION OF PROVIDING EX-GRATIA ASSISTANCE FROM THE FUND OR OTHER SOURCES TO SHOPKEEPERS AND MODULAR STALL HOLDERS FOR LOSS OF STOCK. THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE INTENDS TO DISCUSS THE PROBLEMS FACING THESE SMALL TRADERS WITH THE ERF COMMITTEE.

THIS IS PART OF THE OVERALL GOVERNMENT EFFORT TO ASSIST THOSE AFFECTED BY THE LANDSLIDE.

THE HOME AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT THROUGH ITS KWUN TONG CITY DISTRICT OFFICE THIS (THURSDAY) AFTERNOON MADE CASH GRANTS OF $50 EACH OUT OF THE SING TAO FAT CHOY FUND TO ALL THOSE WHO HAD TO MOVE OUT OF THE TWO BLOCKS IN ORDER TO ASSIST THEM WITH ANY IMMEDIATE FINANCIAL NEEDS.

THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT IS LOOKING AFTER THE ACCOMMODATION FOR THE EVACUATED, OF THE 2,400 PEOPLE WHO HAD TO LEAVE THEIR HOMES SOME 520 ARE TEMPORARILY HOUSED IN ITS KOWLOON BAY FACTORY BLOCK. THE OTHERS HAVE GONE TO RELATIVES OR FRIENDS TO STAY. SOME 1,214 OF THEM, HOWEVER, ARE BEING FED AND PROVIDED WITH BLANKETS BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT. CONSIDERATION IS ALSO BEING GIVEN TO ALTERNATIVE HOUSING ARRANGEMENTS FOR THOSE WHOSE HOMES WERE AFFECTED BY THE MUDSLIDE.

THE ARMY HAS OFFERED TO PROVIDE TRANSPORT FACILITIES FOR THOSE STAYING IN KOWLOON BAY.

IN THE MEANTIME, ENGINEERS FROM THE HOUSING AND PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENTS ARE WORKING WITH CONSULTANTS TO INVESTIGATE THE DAMAGE AND PLAN REPAIRS TO THE EMBANKMENTS.

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