XN000022-1983-04-12 — Page 4

TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 1983

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MR DAVY SAID LICENSED DWELLING VESSELS WOULD BE PHASED OUT IN THE LONG TERM AS THE OCCUPANTS MOVED ASHORE TO LIVE. THIS WOULD OCCUR WHEN A BOAT BECAME UNSAFE AND THE OCCUPANTS TOOK UP OFFERS OF REHOUSING, WHEN A FAMILY BECAME ELIGIBLE FOR PUBLIC HOUSING THROUGH THE WAITING LIST OR AS A RESULT OF DEVELOPMENT CLEARANCES. WHEN A FAMILY MOVED ASHORE VOLUNTARILY TO PRIVATE ACCOMMODATION OR WHEN THE LICENCE OF A VESSEL COULD NO LONGER BE TRANSFERRED ON THE DEATH OF THE HOLDER.

+THE REPLACEMENT OF A DWELLING VESSEL WILL BE ALLOWED BUT ONLY IN VERY SPECIAL CASES, HE ADDED. PERMISSION WILL BE GRANTED IF THE LICENSEE CAN ESTABLISH THAT THE REPLACEMENT VESSEL IS IN A SAFE CONDITION AND IS NO LARGER THAN THE VESSEL TO BE REPLACED, THAT THE OCCUPANTS PROVIDE A SERVICE TO OTHER BOATS IN THE VICINITY AND THAT THEY ARE ELIGIBLE FOR A LICENCE.

BREACHES OF THE REGULATIONS WILL MAKE A PERSON LIABLE TO A FINE OF $5 000 AND IMPRISONMENT FOR SIX MONTHS.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

A PRESS FACILITY HAS BEEN ARRANGED FOR THURSDAY (APRIL 14) MORNING TO TAKE MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES TO YAU MA TEI TYPHOON SHELTER TO SEE THE OPERATION OF THE MARINE DEPARTMENT IN THE REGISTRATION OF DWELLING BOATS.

TWO BOATS +TIN HAU+ AND +MARINE NO.9+ - WILL DEPART FROM QUEEN'S PIER, CENTRAL AT 10 AM SHARP TO TAKE PRESS MEMBERS TO THE TYPHOON SHELTER.

GIS OFFICERS WILL BE ON HAND TO ASSIST.

DISTRICT BOARD INVOLVEMENT URGED

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URBAN RENEWAL AND IMPROVEMENT OF THE OLDER PARTS OF TSUEN WAN 18 AN IMPORTANT ISSUE, AND ONE WHICH MUST INVOLVE DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS FOR A SOLUTION, THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, MR DAVID AKERS-JONES, SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).

SPEAKING AT THE LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE FEDERATION OF INDUSTRIES IN TSUEN WAN, MR AKERS-JONES SAID THE PROBLEM NEEDED TO BE TACKLED NOW BECAUSE THE SOLUTIONS WERE DIFFICULT TO FIND AND TOOK MANY YEARS TO IMPLEMENT.

+THERE ARE STILL PATCHES OF OLD UNSANITARY TSUEN WAN TO BE CLEARED, MANY OF THE BUILDINGS OF THE FIFTIES AND SIXTIES ARE NOW IN AN ADVANCED STATE OF DETERIORATION AND DECAY.

+THEY ARE DENSELY INHABITED AND THE PROCESS OF URBAN RENEWAL

AND IMPROVEMENT WILL BE COMPLEX AND COSTLY, HE SAID,

BUT, HE ADDED, TSUEN WAN WOULD NOT STOP GROWING.

DIVER 'ON OF TRAFFIC FROM THE NORTH WEST OF THE NEW TERRITORIES ON TO THE . -PASS ACROSS THE BAY WOULD TAKE PLACE IN 1985 AND WOULD RELIEVE THE TOWN OF MUCH OF ITS TRAFFIC CONGESTION, AND POLLUTION FROM NOISE AND TRAFFIC FUMES, HE SAID.

ŠOUR PAN ALVITON