XN000022-1980-11-01 — Page 6

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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1980

MAC INAUGURATED IN TSING YI SQUATTER COMMUNITY

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A SQUATTER COMMUNITY ON TSING YI ISLAND WAS TOLD TODAY IT STOOD IN GREATER NEED OF ASSISTANCE THAN MOST OTHER PLACES IN TSUEN WAN DISTRICT.

THE TOWN MANAGER AND DISTRICT OFFICER TSUEN WAN, DR JAMES HAYES, MADE THIS COMMENT WHEN INAUGURATING THE MOON CHAI TONG MUTUAL AID COMMITTEE, WHICH WILL SERVE ABOUT 2 500 SQUATTERS.

DR HAYES SAID HE CHOSE TO INAUGURATE THE MAC BECAUSE HE WAS PERSONALLY CONCERNED AT CONDITIONS IN THE MOON CHAI TONG TYPHOON SHELTER AND SQUATTER BOAT ANCHORAGE.

+ I FELT THAT SOMETHING MUST BE DONE TO ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO HELP IMPROVE THEIR LIVING CONDITIONS IN CO-OPERATION WITH CONCERNED GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS IN THE TIME THAT IS STILL LEFT BEFORE REDEVELOPMENT BRINGS YOU NEW AND BETTER HOMES, HE SAID.

HE SAID IT WAS PARTICULARLY TRUE THAT THE COMMUNITY STOOD IN GREATER NEED OF ASSISTANCE WITH REGARD TO ENVIRONMENTAL SANITATION AND FACILITIES FOR RECREATION,

HE HAD ASKED THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO DO WHAT IT COULD TO IMPROVE SANITATION IN A VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION AND, IN THE MEANTIME, MORE RECREATIONAL FACILITIES WERE BEING PROVIDED THROUGH THE INITIATIVE OF DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER, MR WONG DAI-HE, WHO HAD LEVELLED A PIECE OF CROWN LAND FOR GAMES USE.

A CROWN LAND PERMIT WOULD BE ISSUED TO COVER OCCUPATION OF THIS LAND AND HE WAS GLAD THAT THE DAB WOULD PAY FOR EQUIPMENT TO BE PROVIDED SO THAT MINI-SOCCER GAMES COULD BE PLAYED THERE.

I HAVE POINTED TO THE NEEDS AND YOU YOURSELVES WILL BE ONLY TOO FAMILIAR WITH THEM,+ DR HAYES SAID. +1 HOPE THAT THROUGH MUTUAL CO-OPERATION WITH THE DISTRICT OFFICE AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS IT WILL BE POSSIBLE TO ALLEVIATE CONDITIONS AND SOLVE SOME PROBLEMS IN THE FEW YEARS THAT ARE LEFT AT MOON CHAI TONG.+

THE AREA IS DUE FOR RECLAMATION DURING 1982/83 AND THE SITE WILL BE MAINLY USED FOR PUBLIC HOUSING.