XN000022-1984-07-13 — Page 8

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HELP FOR TIN SHUI WAI VILLAGERS

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FRIDAY, JULY 13, 1984

TO FURTHER ASSIST TIN SHUT WAY VILLAGERS DUE TO BE CLEARED TO PREPARE FOR A NEW LIFE, A LIAISON OFFICE WILL BE SET UP FOR A WEEK FROM MONDAY (JULY 16) AT THE PING SHAN RURAL COMMITTEE OFFICE.

ANY FAMILIES WITH INDIVIDUAL PROBLEMS ARE URGED TO MAKE FULL USE OF THE OFFICE WHICH WILL BE MANNED BY OFFICERS FROM THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT, THE DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE, AND THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, AND CO-ORDINATED BY THE YUEN LONG DISTRICT OFFICE.

THE LIAISON OFFICE WILL BE OPEN BETWEEN 9.30 AM AND 12 NOON EACH DAY.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DISTRICT OFFICE POINTED OUT THAT DURING THE PAST FEW MONTHS, INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENTS HAD BEEN IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH THE VILLAGERS CONCERNED.

+ HOWEVER, THE LIAISON OFFICE WILL MAKE IT MORE CONVENIENT FOR THEM TO SEE REPRESENTATIVES OF DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS TOGETHER IN ONE PLACE, HE SAID.

THE SPOKESMAN ALSO URGED THE SMALL GROUP OF 12 PEOPLE NOW CAMPING OUTSIDE THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES TO RETURN TO YUEN LONG AND MAKE USE OF THIS ADDITIONAL FACILITY.

+ APART FROM HANDLING ENQUIRIES ABOUT EX-GRATIA ALLOWANCES, REHOUSING ARRANGEMENTS AND APPLICATIONS FOR RESITING, THE LIAISON OFFICE WILL TRY TO FIND OTHER MEANS TO ASSIST THE VILLAGERS, FOR EXAMPLE, IN OBTAINING EMPLOYMENT, SOCIAL WELFARE BENEFITS AND SO ON.+

CONCERNED DEPARTMENTS HAVE ASSESSED AND REVIEWED ALL CASES ELIGIBLE FOR EX-GRATIA ALLOWANCES IN THE AFFECTED AREA OF TIN SHUI WAI WHICH WILL EVENTUALLY BE DEVELOPED INTO A NEW TOWN PROVIDING HOMES AND EMPLOYMENT FOR SOME 135 000 PEOPLE.

THE GOVERNMENT HAS OFFERED $8 MILLION IN EX-GRATIA ALLOWANCES FOR CROPS, FISHPONDS, PIGGERIES AND OTHER UNDERTAKINGS.

THE RATES OF ALLOWANCES ARE SET DOWN BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND ARE APPLIED UNIFORMLY IN ALL DEVELOPMENT CLEARANCES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

OF THE 233 FAMILIES INVOLVED IN THE COMING CLEARANCE, THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT HAS COMPLETED REHOUSING ARRANGEMENTS FOR 1103 FAMILIES OF 415 PEOPLE. THE MAJORITY OF THEM, TOTALLING 91 FAMILIES WITH 369 PEOPLE, HAVE ALREADY PAID RENT FOR THEIR NEW HOMES.

/AMONG THOSE