XN000022-1978-05-18 — Page 3

THURSDAY, MAY 18, 1978

THE SPOKESMAN RECALLED THAT, RECOGNISING THE NEED FOR OWNERS AND OCCUPIERS OF THESE BUILDINGS TO HAVE NOTICE AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE, THE GOVERNMENT INFORMED ALL OCCUPIERS OF THE IMPENDING RESUMPTION ON JANUARY 31, 1978 BEFORE THE GAZETTING OF THE RAILWAY AREA PLAN.

AGAIN, ON APRIL 28, 1978, ALL OWNERS AND OCCUPIERS WERE INFORMED THAT A NOTICE ABOUT THE RESUMPTION OF THESE BUILDINGS WOULD APPEAR IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE ABOUT THE MIDDLE OF MAY 1978 AND THAT THE PROPERTIES WOULD REVERT TO THE CROWN IN NOVEMBER 1978.

OWNERS AND OCCUPIERS WERE ALSO INFORMED THAT, DURING THIS PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS, OFFICERS OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, THE MASS TRANSIT OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, AND THE DISTRICT OFFICE, TSUEN WAN, WOULD BE VISITING THE PREMISES IN ORDER TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY FOR ACCOMMODATION IN A HOUSING AUTHORITY ESTATE AND TO ASSESS THE AMOUNT OF COMPENSATION AND ANY OTHER ALLOWANCES TO WHICH PEOPLE MIGHT BE ENTITLED. THEY WERE FURTHER NOTIFIED THAT POSSESSION OF THE BUILDINGS WOULD BE REQUIRED IN APRIL OR MAY 1979.

+THUS, QUITE APART FROM THE PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION, A FULL 12-MONTH NOTICE HAS BEEN GIVEN TO OWNERS AND OCCUPIERS OF THESE BUILDINGS OF GOVERNMENT'S INTENTION TO RESUME THE LAND AND DEMOLISH THE BUILDINGS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

RESIDENTIAL OCCUPIERS ELIGIBLE FOR ACCOMMODATION IN A HOUSING AUTHORITY ESTATE WILL, BEFORE THE END OF MARCH 1979 BE OFFERED ACCOMMODATION WITHIN THE TSUEN WAN DISTRICT. PEOPLE WHO WISH TO LEAVE THE IR PREMISES AT ANY TIME BETWEEN MAY 1978 AND THE DATE OF CLEARANCE MAY DO SO AND WILL RECEIVE HALF OF THE COMPENSATION OR ALLOWANCE OFFERED THEM BEFORE VACATING THE IR PREMISES, WITH THE BALANCE BEING PAID IMMEDIATELY ON GIVING VACANT POSSESSION,

COMMERCIAL OCCUPIERS WILL RECEIVE AN EX-GRATIA DISTURBANCE

ALLOWANCE.

IN ADDITION, PEOPLE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION UNDER THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY (LAND RESUMPTION AND RELATED PROVISIONS) ORDINANCE WILL BE OFFERED A FAIR MARKET VALUE AT THE DATE OF REVERSION FOR THE IR INTERESTS IN THE PREMISES CONCERNED.

IN RESPECT OF ANY DISPUTE INVOLVING THE AMOUNT OF COMPENSATION TO BE PAID FOR ANY LEGAL INTERESTS IN LAND ARBITRATION AND FINAL SETTLEMENT MAY BE UNDERTAKEN BY THE LANDS TRIBUNAL.

THE TOWN MANAGER AND DISTRICT OFFICER IS IN CONTACT WITH RESIDENTS OF THE BUILDINGS AND HAS HELD MEETINGS WITH REPRESENTATIVES TO DISCUSS THE GENERAL CIRCUMSTANCES RELATING TO THIS RESUMPTION AND WAYS IN WHICH HIS OFFICE CAN HELP RESIDENTS.

HE HAS ADVISED THE OWNERS TO ASSIST THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT IN THE VALUATION SURVEY WHICH IS NECESSARY TO ASSESS COMPENSATION AND ASSURED THEM OF HIS INTEREST AND SUPPORT IN THE IR CLAIMS FOR REALISTIC COMPENSATION.

THE MASS TRANSIT