XN000022-1977-07-31 — Page 2

SUNDAY, JULY 31, 1977

STEPPING UP DRIVE AGAINST FACTORIES IN RESIDENTIAL PREMISES

***

THE GOVERNMENT IS STEPPING UP ITS DRIVE TO EVICT FACTORIES FROM NON-INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS IN THE RAPIDLY-EXPANDING NEW TOWN OF TSUEN WAN.

THE ENVIRONMENTAL LEASE ENFORCEMENT+ CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED THREE YEARS AGO THIS MONTH BY THE TSUEN WAN DISTRICT OFFICE HAS PRODUCED GOOD RESULTS SO FAR, BUT FROM NOW ON IT IS TO BE GIVEN AN EVEN SHARPER CUTTING EDGE,

IN THE PAST, SOME PROPRIETORS ILLEGALLY OPERATING FACTORIES IN NON-INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS HAVE BEEN GIVEN PERIODS OF +GRACE+ BY PAYING A +FORBEARANCE+ FEE TO THE DISTRICT OFFICE.

+FROM NOW ON, HOWEVER, WE WILL ALLOW SUCH OFFENDERS TO PAY THE FORBEARANCE LEVY ONLY UNDER VERY EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES.+ SAID MR. CANNING LO, SENIOR LAND EXECUTIVE IN CHARGE OF THE DISTRICT OFFICE LEASE ENFORCEMENT UNIT.

+OUR CAMPAIGN OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS HAS BEEN ONE OF EDUCATION AS WELL AS DIRECT ACTION AND IT IS FELT THAT THE TIME HAS COME TO GIVE IT EVEN MORE BITE.+

SINCE THE UNIT SWUNG INTO ACTION IN JULY, 1974, IT HAS :

* INVESTIGATED 106 NEW NON-INDUSTRIAL (DOMESTIC AND COMMERCIAL)

BUILDINGS,

* FOUND 492 OWNERS IN BREACH OF LEASE CONDITIONS,

* CLEARED 354 FACTORIES FROM SUCH PREMISES, AND

* RE-ENTERED SIX PREMISES.

MR. LO EXPLAINED THAT THE CAMPAIGN APPLIED TO +NEW BUILDINGS+ IN TSUEN WAN - THOSE GIVEN AN OCCUPATION PERMIT AFTER OCTOBER 30, 1972.

+WHEN WE RECEIVE A COMPLAINT OR DETECT A CASE OF ILLEGAL USE ME INVESTIGATE IMMEDIATELY, EXPLAINED MR. LO.

+ IF WE FIND THAT THERE IS A BREACH OF THE LEASE TERMS AND CONDITIONS, WE SERVE A NOTICE ON THE LESSEE REQUIRING HIM TO PURGE THE BREACH. WE MAY THEN SEE THE LESSEE PERSONALLY, EXPLAIN THE LEASE TERMS AND CONDITIONS TO HIM AND HOW HE HAS CONTRAVENED THEM.

+WE USUALLY ALLOW THE OFFENDER A FURTHER 14 DAYS BEFORE MAKING ANOTHER INSPECTION AND IF THE BREACH HAS NOT BEEN PURGED AFTER THAT, WE ISSUE A WARNING LETTER GIVING 28 DAYS TO PURGE THE BREACH, FAILING WHICH WE WILL THEN PRCCEED TO RE-ENTER THE PREMISES UNDER THE PROVISION OF THE CROWN RIGHTS (RE-ENTRY AND VESTING REMEDIES) ORDINANCE.

+CUR EXPERIENCE SHOWS THAT IN MOST CASES THE LESSEES ARE PREPARED TO PURGE THE BREACH SOON AFTER THIS BECAUSE THEY KNOW WE WILL TAKE THE STRONGEST POSSIBLE ACTION.

/+IN SOME