XN000022-1981-10-30 — Page 11

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1981

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SIX BUILDINGS TO BE RESUMED FOR MTR STATION

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SIX FIVE-STOREY BUILDINGS AT 542-552 LOCKHART ROAD WILL BE RESUMED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY ISLAND LINE.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THE BUILDINGS WERE WITHIN LARGE AREA OF LAND AT THE JUNCTION OF EAST POINT ROAD WITH HENNESSY ROAD, GREAT GEORGE STREET AND LOCKHART ROAD WHICH WAS REQUIRED BY THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY CORPORATION FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A MAJOR STATION CONCOURSE.

MOST OF THE OWNERS OF THE PROPERTY IN THE OTHER THREE ROADS HAVE REACHED AN AGREEMENT WITH THE CORPORATION FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THEIR LOTS AND THERE ARE INDICATIONS THAT THE REST WILL JOINTLY REDEVELOP THE IR PROPERTY WITH THE MTRC. ALL OF THEM HAVE AGREED TO PROVIDE VACANT SITES WITHIN THE TIME-SCALE REQUIRED FOR THE RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION PROGRAMME.

A PROPOSAL FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE STATION SITE WITH THE CORPORATION WAS ALSO MADE TO THE OWNERS OF THE LOCKHART ROAD PROPERTY BUT THEY FAILED TO REACH A CONCENSUS.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE SITE IS SCHEDULED TO BE HANDED OVER TO THE CORPORATION IN MAY 1982 AND RESUMPTION OF THE LAND IS NECESSARY TO ALLOW TIME FOR CLEARANCE WORK TO BE CARRIED OUT.

UNDER A RESUMPTION ORDER PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY, THE LAND WILL REVERT TO THE GOVERNMENT AT THE END OF DECEMBER.

DOMESTIC TENANTS WILL BE ENTITLED TO REHOUSING IN ACCORDANCE WITH HOUSING DEPARTMENT'S POLICY. STATUTORY COMPENSATION WILL BE PAID TO THEM AND TO GROUND FLOOR SHOP OPERATORS ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE IT.

EASEMENTS FOR MTR WORK

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EASEMENTS WILL BE CREATED OVER A SMALL PORTION OF LAND IN THE SOUTH EASTERN CORNER OF THE SHARP STREET TRAM DEPOT SITE TO FACILITATE THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY ISLAND LINE.

A NOTIFICATION OF AN ORDER TO THIS EFFECT, MADE UNDER SECTION 6(1) OF THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY (LAND RESUMPTION AND RELATED PROVISIONS) ORDINANCE, WAS GAZETTED TODAY (FRIDAY).

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID: +ONLY A SMALL SURFACE AREA WITHIN THE DEPOT SITE IS REQUIRED AS A WORK AREA FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A TUNNEL ACCESS SHAFT LEADING TO THE FUTURE MTR CAUSEWAY STATION.

*THE REST OF THE EASEMENTS ARE BENEATH THE DEPOT SITE WHERE THE PASSENGER TUNNEL WILL ENCROACH ON THE DEPOT ALONG THE MATHESON STREET ALIGNMENT.

+ THE EASEMENTS ARE NOT EXPECTED TO AFFECT THE NORMAL OPERATIONS OF THE HONG KONG TRAMWAYS, HE ADDED.