XN000022-1978-05-12 — Page 3

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FRIDAY, MAY 12, 1976

MORE COMPENSATION FOR SHEUNG SHUI FISH BREEDERS

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THE GOVERNMENT HAS APPROVED AN INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF COMPENSATION TO BE PAID TO A GROUP OF 24 TROPICAL FISH BREEDERS WHO WILL MOVE NEXT WEEK IN THE SECOND PHASE OF THE CHOI YUEN TSUEN CLEARANCE AT SHEUNG SHUT.

THE TAI PO DISTRICT OFFICER, MR. CLIVE OXLEY, SAID TODAY THE GOVERNMENT HAD NOW OFFERED THE FISH BREEDERS ABOUT $500,000 IN COMPENSATION - NEARLY THREE TIMES THE AMOUNT ORIGINALLY ASSESSED.

MR. OXLEY SAID: THE FISH BREEDING OPERATIONS, CONSISTING OF OUTDOOR AQUARIA, WERE ORIGINALLY ASSESSED ON THE BASIS OF SEING AGRICULTURAL UNDERTAKINGS.

+ BUT AFTER THE BREEDERS MADE REPRESENTATIONS TO THE DISTRICT OFFICE AND UMELCO WHO HAVE SINCE TAKEN UP THEIR APPEAL FOR BETTER TERMS OF COMPENSATION, FURTHER INQUIRIES WERE MADE BY STAFF OF THE TWO OFFICES IN CONSULTATION WITH THE HOUSING AND AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENTS.

+AFTER CAREFUL CONSIDERATION, IT WAS DECIDED THAT IT WOULD BE MORE APPROPRIATE TO CLASSIFY THE AQUARIA AS RURAL INDUSTRY FATHER THAN AGRICULTURAL UNDERTAK INGS,

+THIS MEANS THAT COMPENSATION WILL BE PAID TO THE OPERATORS AT THE RATE OF 7 PER SQUARE FOOT, WITH A CEILING OF 350,000. THIS RATE IS IN LINE WITH THE RATE REQUESTED BY THE BREEDERS THEMSELVES.

+THE DETAILS OF THE NEW RATE HAVE BEEN EXPLAINED TO THE OPERATORS, WHO SEEM VERY HAPPY WITH THE NEWS.+

MR. OXLEY ALSO CLARIFIED AN EARLIER GOVERNMENT STATEMENT ABOUT ELIGIBILITY FOR THE ALLOCATION RESITES IN THE DISTRICT.

HE SAID THAT THIS ELIGIBILITY APPLIED ONLY TO GENUINE LONG-TERM CULTIVATORS WHO COULD FIND A PIECE OF AGRICULTURAL LAND OUTSIDE THE DEVELOPMENT AREAS WHICH MET WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE DISTRICT OFFICE.

IN SUCH A CASE, THE CULTIVATOR WOULD BE PAID A REHABILITATION ALLOWANCE OF $5,000 WHILE FORFEITING HIS RIGHT TO PUBLIC HOUSING.

+BUT IN THIS PARTICULAR CLEARANCE, THERE ARE FEW, IF ANY, WHO WOULD QUALIFY AS GENUINE CULTIVATORS, + MR. OXLEY ADDED.

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