XN000022-1979-03-31 — Page 3

2

SATURDAY, MARCH 31, 1979

UNDER THE PROJECT, SITES WILL ALSO BE RESERVED FOR VILLAGE TYPE HOUSING, OPEN SPACE AND OTHER FACILITIES.

CONSTRUCTION OF THE ASSOCIATED ROADS, DRAINAGE SYSTEMS AND RIVER TRAINING WORKS ON THE RIVER SUTLEJ TO AVOID POSSIBLE FLOODING IS SCHEDULED TO START IN OCTOBER AND WILL TAKE ABOUT 18 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.

TO FACILITATE ENGINEERING WORKS TO BE CARRIED OUT, THE GOVERNMENT WILL RESUME 37 HECTARES OF PRIVATE LAND SITUATED IN THE SOUTHWESTERN PART OF SHEK WUI HUI IN A NUMBER OF STAGES OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS.

THE FIRST STAGE INVOLVING 68 TEMPORARY DOMESTIC STRUCTURES OCCUPIED BY 15 FAMILIES AND TWO TEMPORARY STRUCTURES USED AS SHOP AND WORKSHOP RESPECTIVELY WILL TAKE PLACE IN SEPTEMBER.

+DISPLACED FAMILIES WILL BE OFFERED EITHER PUBLIC HOUSING OR SPACES IN THE TEMPORARY HOUSING AREA DEPENDING ON THEIR ELIGIBILITY, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

+GENUINE CULTIVATOR FAMILIES MAY BE GRANTED AN EX-GRATIA REHABILITATION ALLOWANCE OF $5,000 PER FAMILY BUT WILL FORFEIT THEIR PRIORITY FOR PUBLIC HOUSING, HE ADDED.

AS THE LAND TO BE RESUMED LIES WITHIN THE FANLING-SHEUNG SHUI-SHEK WU! HUT OUTLINE ZONING PLAN, LAND OWNERS CONCERNED WILL BE OFFERED THE ALTERNATIVES OF LAND EXCHANGE ENTITLEMENTS OR CASH COMPENSATION.

CARE NEEDED FOR ALL OUR CHILDREN SAYS SNT ******

THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR. DAVID AKERS-JONES, SAID TODAY (SATURDAY) HONG KONG MUST AIM AT PROVIDING BASIC CARE AND ATTENTION FOR ALL OUR CHILDREN AND THEN STEADILY IMPROVE OUR FACILITIES AND CARE.

THIS GOAL SHOULD APPLY TO THE SICK, THE DISABLED AND THOSE WITHOUT PARENTS AS WELL AS THOSE WHO WERE MORE FORTUNATE, HE SAID.

SPEAKING AT THE OPEN DAY OF ST. CHRISTOPHER'S HOME AT TAI PO,

ORGANISED TO COMMEMORATE THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF THE CHILD, MR. AKERS-JONES SAID THAT SINCE THE DECLARATION OF CHILD'S RIGHTS IN 1959, HONG KONG HAD TRAVELLED A LONG WAY FROM THE BASIC PROVISION OF PRIMARY EDUCATION TO NINE YEARS FREE EDUCATION FOR ALL.

IN ADDITION, A LEGAL FRAMEWORK AND A PROPER BASIC HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED FOR THE PROVISION OF CHILD CARE CENTRES WHERE WORKING PARENTS CAN FEEL CONFIDENT THAT THEIR CHILDREN ARE IN SAFE HANDS WHILE THEY ARE AT WORK.

/+.2 ARE