XN000022-1978-01-18 — Page 3

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 1978

SITE FOR ADDITIONAL RECREATIONAL FACILITIES IN SHA TIN NEW TOWN

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THE GOVERNMENT IS TO DEVELOP AN AREA NORTH OF SHING MUN RIVER IN SHA TIN NEW TOWN TO PROVIDE SITES FOR RECREATIONAL PURPOSES, INCLUDING A RECREATION GROUND AND A DISTRICT OPEN SPACE.

THE SITE FORMATION IS PART OF AN $80 MILLION DEVELOPMENT SCHEME, WHICH INCLUDES ROADWORKS AND DRAINAGE, FOR THE DISTRICT'S NEW TOWN CENTRE AREA. IT IS NEAR ANOTHER SITE TO BE FORMED FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES.

WORK IS EXPECTED TO BE CARRIED OUT IN THREE MONTHS TIME BY PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT'S CONTRACTORS AND WILL TAKE ABOUT 12 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.

THE SHA TIN DISTRICT OFFICER, MR. GERRY HIGGINSON, SAID TODAY THE PROJECT WAS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE AMENITY AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES FOR THE FAST-GROWING POPULATION IN SHA TIN.

+ IT HAS BEEN PLANNED AS PART OF THE DISTRICT'S OVERALL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME WHICH WILL SEE THE NEW TOWN TRANSFORMED INTO A BALANCED, SELF-CONTAINED COMMUNITY OF HALF A MILLION PEOPLE BY MID-1980'S,+ HE SAID.

TO FACILITATE SITE FORMATION WORK HE SAID, THE GOVERNMENT WOULD RESUME ABOUT 27,260 SQUARE METRES OF AGRICULTURAL LAND TO THE NORTH OF THE SHING MUN RIVER.

A THREE MONTHS' NOTICE OF THE LAND RESUMPTION WAS PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE LAST WEEK.

AS THE LAND TO BE RESUMED LIES WITHIN THE BOUNDARY OF THE NEW TOWN, THE OWNERS OF THE AGRICULTURAL LAND WILL BE OFFERED THE ALTERNATIVE OF LAND EXCHANGE ENTITLEMENTS OR CASH COMPENSATION.

+THE GOVERNMENT WILL PAY COMPENSATION FOR CROPS, FRUIT TREES, BAMBOOS, IRRIGATION PIPES AND FENCES, HE SAID.

+CULTIVATORS WILL BE GIVEN EX-GRATIA ALLOWANCES WHILE DISPLACED PIG-BREEDERS AND POULTRY FARMERS WILL RECEIVE EX-GRATIA DISTURBANCE ALLOWANCE, TOGETHER WITH +TUN FU+ CEREMONIAL FEES.+

HE SAID NO BUILDING LAND WOULD BE INVOLVED IN THE RESUMPTION, BUT 156 DOMESTIC TEMPORARY STRUCTURES, MOSTLY ON PRIVATE LAND, WOULD HAVE TO BE CLEARED.

+ELIGIBLE FAMILIES WILL BE OFFERED PUBLIC HOUSING IN SHA TIN WHILE THOSE FOUND NOT ELIGIBLE WILL BE OFFERED SPACE IN A TEMPORARY HOUSING AREA IN THE DISTRICT.

+GENUINE CULTIVATOR-FAMILIES, WHO ARE ELIGIBLE FOR PUBLIC HOUSING BUT OPT FOR A RESITE OUTSIDE THE LAYOUT TO CONTINUE FARMING WILL BE OFFERED AN EX-GRATIA REHABILITATION ALLOWANCE OF $5,000 PER FAMILY BUT WILL FORFEIT THEIR PRIORITY FOR PUBLIC HOUSING, HE SAID.

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