XN000022-1980-05-12 — Page 2

MONDAY, MAY 12, 1980

CRACKDOWN ON IMPROPER USE OF VEHICLE PARKS AND LOADING BAYS

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A CRACKDOWN ON TSUEN WAN FACTORIES USING VEHICLE PARKS AND LOADING AND UNLOADING BAYS FOR STORAGE PURPOSES AND AS WORKSHOPS

IS HAVING THE DESIRED EFFECT.

DURING THE LAST 12 MONTHS. 400 VEHICLE PARKS AND BAYS HAVE BEEN REVERTED TO THE IR PROPER USAGE FOLLOWING ACTION BY A SPECIAL TEAM.

A FURTHER 100 CASES ARE BEING INVESTIGATED.

THE FIVE-MAN TEAM IS ATTACHED TO THE LEASE ENFORCEMENT UNIT OF TSUEN WAN DISTRICT OFFICE.

TSUEN WAN ASSISTANT DISTRICT OFFICER, MR KEITH LAU, SAID BECAUSE THE BAYS AND VEHICLE PARKS WERE BEING USED IN BREACH OF LEASE CONDITIONS, LOADING AND UNLOADING ACTIVITIES HAD TO BE CARRIED OUT ON THE STREETS, CAUSING SERIOUS TRAFFIC CONGESTION AND DISRUPTION.

HE SAID AS A RESULT OF THE TEAM'S EFFORTS THE SITUATION NOW WAS +VERY DIFFERENT+ FROM WHAT IT WAS A YEAR AGO. +ALTHOUGH A PROBLEM STILL EXISTS WE BELIEVE WE ARE GETTING ACROSS OUR MESSAGE THAT WE MEAN BUSINESS.+

MR LAU SAID THE TEAM HAD COMPLETED ITS WORK IN THE TAI LIN PEI-KWAI CHEONG ROAD AREA FOR THE TIME BEING+ AND WOULD NOW CONCENTRATE ON THE NORTH KWAI CHUNG FACTORY AREA.

+WE WILL GO TO OTHER AREAS LATER, AND THEN RE-VISIT FACTORIES TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE NOT GONE BACK TO THEIR FORMER WAYS.+

MR LAU SAID INITIALLY WARNING LETTERS WERE SENT TO FACTORIES FOUND BREAKING LEASE CONDITIONS.

THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY A VISIT TO SEE WHETHER ACTION WAS BEING TAKEN TO COMPLY WITH THE LEASE.

IF A FACTORY OPERATOR WAS SEEN TO BE TAKING POSITIVE STEPS TO COMPLY, AN EXTENSION PERIOD WAS GRANTED ON PAYMENT OF A FEE.

IN CASES WHERE IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT NO ACTION WAS BEING TAKEN, RE-ENTRY WAS RECOMMENDED, BUT FORTUNATELY THIS STEP HAD NOT HAD TO BE TAKEN YET.

MR LAU SAID FACTORY OWNERS HAD BEEN GENERALLY CO-OPERATIVE AND WERE USUALLY WILLING TO USE PARKING AND LOADING SPACES PROPERLY WHEN ASKED TO DO SO. HOWEVER, WE WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP A CLOSE WATCH ON THE SITUATION TO MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T REVERT TO WHAT IT WAS.+

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