XN000022-1977-02-10 — Page 3

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1977

+ IN RECOGNITION OF THIS GENERAL PRINCIPLE, HE SAID, + THE GOVERNMENT ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE 1972 AND 1976 LANDSLIPS AT SAU MAU PING, AND WISHES TO EXPRESS ITS PROFOUND REGRET AT THE LOSS OF LIVES AND INJURIES WHICH OCCURRED IN THE TRAGEDIES.+

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS PREPARED TO SETTLE CLAIMS FOR EX-GRATIA COMPENSATION IN RESPECT OF BOTH LANDSLIDES, AND TO PAY THE LEGAL COSTS OF VICTIMS IN THE PREPARATION OF CLAIMS. FINANCE COMMITTEE WILL BE INVITED TO APPROVE THE PROVISION OF THE NECESSARY FUNDS.

THE AMOUNT OF EX-GRATIA PAYMENT TO BE MADE TO ANY CLAIMANT WOULD BE ASSESSED ON THE USUAL PRINCIPLES APPLIED TO COMMON LAW CLAIMS AND WILL NOT BE REDUCED BY ANY SUMS RECEIVED BY HIM FROM VOLUNTARY PUBLIC DONATIONS. IN THE EVENT OF DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN A CLAIMANT AND THE GOVERNMENT, THE CLAIM WILL BE REFERRED TO AN INDEPENDENT BOARD OF ARBITRATION, THE MEMBERS OF WHICH WILL BE SELECTED FROM A PANEL APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR. THE GOVERNMENT WOULD REGARD ITSELF AS BOUND BY THE FINDING OF THE BOARD.

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HE SAID CLAIMS SHOULD BE MADE TO THE CROWN SOLICITOR, AND ALL CLAIMANTS -- IRRESPECTIVE OF THEIR MEANS -- COULD SEEK FREE LEGAL ADVICE FROM THE DIRECTOR OF LEGAL AID IN SUBMITTING THEIR CLAIMS.

IN THE FIRST INSTANCE, ADVICE COULD BE OBTAINED FROM ANY CITY DISTRICT OFFICER OR GOVERNMENT HOUSING MANAGER.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE REPORTS HAD RECOMMENDED REMEDIAL MEASURES FOR OTHER FILL SLOPES NOW CONSIDERED TO BE AT RISK BOTH AT SAU MAU PING AND AT A NUMBER OF OTHER PUBLIC HOUSING AREAS. PLANS ARE ALREADY IN HAND TO CARRY OUT ALL THESE WORKS AS A MATTER OF URGENCY.

+ALL THE WORKS REQUIRED TO MAKE THE SLOPES SAFE WILL BE COMPLETED BEFORE THIS YEAR'S WET SEASON, HE SAID, +AND SHOULD THERE BE A THREAT OF HEAVY RAIN UNUSUALLY EARLY IN THE YEAR SPECIAL MEASURES WILL BE TAKEN TO PREVENT INFILTRATION OF RAIN. +

+REMEDIAL WORKS ON THE SLOPES INVOLVED IN LAST YEAR'S SAU MAU PING LANDSLIP ARE IN PROGRESS, AND THE NECESSARY WORKS IN OTHER HOUSING AREAS WILL BEGIN IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.

FOLLOWING DETAILED INSPECTION BY THE CONSULTANTS ENGINEERS OF ALL FILL SLOPES IN ALL PUBLIC HOUSING AREAS, IT HAD BEEN DETERMINED THAT ONLY 11 SLOPES AFFECTING TENANTS MIGHT BE AT RISK. THESE WERE AT LEI MUK SHUE, TAI WO HAU, KWAI SHING, SO UK, CHAI WAN, TSZ WAN SHAN, SAU MAÚ PING AND THE LAI CHI KOK AND CHAI WAN COTTAGE AREAS.

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