XN000022-1978-11-29 — Page 13

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VEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1978

THE DECISION MEANS THAT THE OWNERS AND OPERATORS OF SUCH INADMISSIBLE FACTORIES INCLUDED IN THE 1976 SQUATTER CONTROL SURVEY WILL NOW RECEIVE $7,000 FOR COVERED WORKSHOPS OCCUPYING AN AREA OF BETWEEN 50 AND 200 SQUARE FEET, PLUS $38 FOR EACH ADDITIONAL SQUARE FOOT INSTEAD OF $34. THE EX-GRATIA ALLOWANCE FOR OPEN WORKING AREAS REMAINS UNCHANGED AT $7 A SQUARE FOOT UP TO A MAXIMUM OF $50,000.

ANNOUNCING THE INCREASE TODAY (WEDNESDAY), A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THE NEW RATE WAS AIMED AT FURTHER EASING PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH CLEARANCES BROUGHT ABOUT BY PUBLIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS.

HE SAID THE 22 LARGE SQUATTER FACTORIES IN TSUEN WAN NORTH FACING CLEARANCE TO MAKE WAY FOR THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH TSUEN WAN AND FOR THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY WOULD BE THE FIRST TO BENEFIT FROM THE INCREASE, WHICH WAS THE SECOND IN THREE MONTHS.

IN AUGUST LAST, FOLLOWING REPRESENTATIONS BY THE OWNERS AND OPERATORS OF THE 22 FACTORIES, THE RATE FOR EACH SQUARE FOOT OF COVERED WORKSHOP OVER 200 SQUARE FEET WAS INCREASED BY 70 PER CENT FROM $20 TO $34 AND THE $100,000 CEILING ABOLISHED TO HELP THEM RELOCATE OR MEET SEVERANCE PAY COMMITMENTS IF THEY CLOSED.

+THESE FACTORIES GAIN HANDSOMELY FROM THE TWO INCREASES,* THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

+UNDER THE OLD $20-A-SQUARE-FOOT RATE, AND THE $100,000 CE ILING THEY WERE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE ONLY ABOUT $2 MILLION IN EX-GRATIA ALLOWANCES. NOW THEY STAND TO GET ABOUT $7.3 MILLION MORE.+

THE SPOKESMAN DESCRIBED THE GOVERNMENT DECISION TO MAKE A FURTHER INCREASE TO THE ALLOWANCES AS GENEROUS. THE FACTORIES HAD BEEN OPERATING ON CROWN OR AGRICULTURAL LAND WITH MINIMUM OVERHEADS FOR MANY YEARS.

THE SPOKESMAN RULED OUT ANY POSSIBILITY OF THE GOVERNMENT ALLOWING THE OWNERS AND OPERATORS OF THE 22 FACTORIES TO RELOCATE THEMSELVES IN OTHER PARTS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES.

+MOST OF THE FACTORIES ARE ENGAGED IN DYEING AND BLEACHING, TANNING, ENAMEL-WARE AND SIMILAR TRADES, AND SUCH A MOVE WOULD ONLY AGGRAVATE SERIOUS POLLUTION PROBLEMS CONFRONTING RURAL AREAS,+ HE SAID.

+BECAUSE OF THIS VERY REAL HAZARD, THE OWNERS AND OPERATORS HAVE THE CHOICE OF ACCEPTING THE GREATLY INCREASED ALLOWANCES AND EITHER RELOCATING THEMSELVES IN THE URBAN AREA- TAKING UP A SUBSTANTIALLY LESS-POLLUTING TRADE- OR CLOSING DOWN.

+ IF THEY CHOOSE TO CLOSE DOWN, THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT WILL HELP WORKERS WHO LOSE THEIR JOBS TO FIND ALTERNATIVE EMPLOYMENT

IN THE MANY TRADES FACING A MANPOWER SHORTAGE, ESPECIALLY IN TSUEN WAN,+ HE SAID.