XN000022-1984-08-02 — Page 21

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 1984

+WE EXPECT THE OTHERS TO DO LIKEWISE BEFORE AUGUST 8,+ HE SAID.

THE REMAINING CHEQUES WERE AVAILABLE AT YUEN LONG DISTRICT OFFICE AND THE SPOKESMAN URGED THOSE ELIGIBLE TO COLLECT THEM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

HE ALSO APPEALED TO FARMERS WHO HAD NOT YET DISPOSED OF THE IR LIVESTOCK, FISH AND POULTRY TO ARRANGE TO SELL THEM BEFORE THE CLEARANCE DATE.

ON HOUSING ENTITLEMENTS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID GOVERNMENT HAD OFFERED FLATS IN TWO OF THE MOST MODERN ESTATES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES - BUTTERFLY ESTATE AND WU KING ESTATE AT TUEN MUN - AND AT LEAST TWO THIRDS OF THE ELIGIBLE FAMILIES HAD ALREADY MOVED THERE.

THE OTHERS WERE EXPECTED TO DO SO SHORTLY.

THOSE FAMILIES ELIGIBLE FOR TEMPORARY HOUSING HAD BEEN OFFERED ACCOMMODATION AT PAK KOK, TUEN MUN, AND MANY OF THESE FAMILIES HAD ALSO MOVED IN.

NINE FAMILIES HAD ASKED FOR A FARM RESITE AND ALL THE APPLICATIONS HAD BEEN APPROVED BY THE LANDS DEPARTMENT.

HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD DONE A GREAT DEAL TO HELP THE FAMILIES TO BE CLEARED AND HAD AGREED TO PAY EX-GRATIA ALLOWANCES TOTALL ING MORE THAN $8 MILLION.

FAIR+.

THESE WERE PAID FROM PUBLIC FUNDS AND WERE +MORE THAN

THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL REVIEWED THE RATES REGULARLY ON A TERRITORY-WIDE BASIS AND HAD RECENTLY APPROVED INCREASES.

HE SAID THE CLEARANCE WAS ESSENTIAL AS THE LAND WAS REQUIRED FOR PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT FOR 135 000 PEOPLE.

AFTER THE CLEARANCE HAS BEEN COMPLETED WORK WILL START ON SITE. A CULVERT WILL BE CONSTRUCTED FOR FUTURE DIVERSION OF THE TAI RIVER AND A THREE-HECTARE WORKS AREA WILL BE FORMED.

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