XN000022-1979-07-13 — Page 3

FRIDAY, JULY 13, 1979

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+HOWEVER, THE OCCUPANTS HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO REMAIN IN THE INTERVENING PERIOD TO ENABLE BOTH THEM AND THE GOVERNMENT TO MAKE THE NECESSARY ARRANGEMENTS FOR REHOUSING AND COMPENSATION.

+THIS HAS NOW BEEN LARGELY DONE AND THE BUILDINGS ARE NOW REQUIRED SO THAT THE SITE CAN BE HANDED OVER TO MTR CONTRACTORS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE TSUEN WAN MTR DEPOT AND TAIL TRACKS,+ MR. HAYES SAID.

THERE ARE 389 UNITS IN THE SEVEN BUILDINGS - 339 DOMESTIC AND 50 GROUND FLOOR SHOPS AND WORKSHOPS AND A WIDE RANGE OF STATUTORY COMPENSATION, EX-GRATIA ALLOWANCES AND ASSISTANCE SCHEMES HAD BEEN OFFERED TO THOSE AFFECTED, MR. HAYES SAID.

HE REVEALED THAT 268 OF THE 339 FLAT OWNERS HAD ACCEPTED THE GOVERNMENT'S COMPENSATION TERMS - FULL MARKET VALUE AT THE DATE OF REVERSION PLUS DISTURBANCE ALLOWANCE PLUS PUBLIC HOUSING OR A CAPITAL IS IED INTEREST-FREE LOAN TO HELP BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN STATUTORY COMPENSATION AND DISTURBANCE ALLOWANCE AND THE VALUE OF THE NEWLY-PURCHASED FLAT.

HE SAID THE 89 OWNERS WHO HAD ACCEPTED GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE IN BUYING NEW FLATS HAD ALSO BEEN GIVEN OTHER ALLOWANCES TO HELP MEET THE EXPENSE OF PURCHASING THE NEW HOMES.

ALL GENUINE TENANTS HAD BEEN OFFERED PUBLIC HOUSING AND MOST OF THEM WERE BEING REHOUSED AT THE NEW CHEUNG SHAN ESTATE NORTH TSUEN WAN.

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MR. HAYES SAID THE WORKSHOP-SHOP OWNERS HAD BEEN OFFERED STATUTORY COMPENSATION AND DISTURBANCE ALLOWANCE AND 41 OUT OF 60 OPERATORS HAD ALSO BEEN OFFERED SPACE IN A GOVERNMENT FLATTED FACTORY.

HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS ANXIOUS TO COME TO AGREEMENT WITH A SMALL GROUP OF OWNERS WHO HAD STILL NOT ACCEPTED COMPENSATION TERMS AND OTHERS WHO WERE STILL SITTING ON THE FENCE,+

+DESPITE ALL EFFORTS OVER THE LAST 18 MONTHS, IT WOULD SEEM THAT THEY STILL DO NOT FULLY APPRECIATE THE WIDE RANGE OF COMPENSATION AND ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE TO THEM, HE SAID.

+BUT THE TIME FOR THE CLEARANCE IS NOW VERY CLOSE AND I HAVE GIVEN FAIR WARNING TO THE REMAINING OCCUPANTS THAT THERE INEVITABLY WILL BE A GREAT DEAL OF INCONVENIENCE ONCE THE CROWN LAND NOTICE EXPIRES.

+THE BUILDINGS WILL HAVE TO BE FENCED OFF AND WATER AND ELECTRICITY SUPPLIES CURTAILED SO THAT PREPARATIONS CAN BE MADE FOR THE DEMOLITION,

+ APPEAL TO THOSE OCCUPANTS WHO HAVE NOT YET FINALISED REMOVAL ARRANGEMENTS TO DO SO AS SOON AS POSSIBLE,+ HE ADDED.

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