XN000022-1985-05-15 — Page 21

WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 1985

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ESTATE SHOP TENANTS GET COMPENSATION

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COMPENSATION FOR SHOP TENANTS AFFECTED BY THE REDEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME OF MARKI AND MARK II ESTATES WAS MADE IN THREE WAYS, THE SECRETARY FOR HOUSING, THE HON DAVID FORD, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON PAULINE NG, HE SAID: FIRSTLY, CASH COMPENSATION WAS PAID TO TENANTS BASED ON THE SIZE OF THEIR SHOP AND ITS BUSINESS POTENTIAL. A TENANT OF A TYPICAL SHOP OF 22 SQUARE METRES WAS PAID HK$83 000 AS COMPENSATION, SUBSTANTIALLY MORE THAN THE TOTAL RENT PAID BY TENANTS DURING THE WHOLE PERIOD OF THE IR TENANCY.

FOR EXAMPLE, HE SAID,

A TENANT OF A SHOP WHO STARTED A

TENANCY ON JANUARY 1, 1956 AND WHO GAVE IT UP ON APRIL 30, 1985, WOULD ONLY HAVE PAID SOME $56 000 IN RENT DURING THE WHOLE OF THAT 29-YEAR PERIOD.

SECONDLY, AND IN ADDITION TO THE COMPENSATION, SHOP

TENANTS AFFECTED BY RE-DEVELOPMENT WERE OFFERED RE-PROVISIONING IN NEW OR OLD ESTATES THROUGH A SYSTEM OF RESTRICTED TENDER.

THIRDLY, IF A SHOP TENANT CHOSE TO BID FOR A SHOP

THROUGH THE OPEN TENDER SYSTEM IN ANOTHER AREA AND WAS

SUCCESSFUL, HE WOULD BE GRANTED A RENT DEPOSIT CONCESSION

EQUIVALENT TO TWO MONTHS' RENT OR $8 000, WHICHEVER WAS THE LESS.

STEPS TAKEN TO MINIMISE MONKEY NUISANCE

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MEASURES HAVE BEEN TAKEN BY THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT TO MINIMISE POSSIBLE NUISANCE CAUSED BY MONKEYS AROUND SHEK LEI PUI RESERVOIR, THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, MR G.A. HIGGINSON, SAID TODAY.

REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON WONG LAM IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR HIGGINSON SAID MONKEYS AROUND SHEK LEI PUI RESERVOIR WERE NORMALLY HARMLESS AND THE MANY VISITORS TO THE AREA ENJOYED WATCHING THEM.

+HOWEVER, LARGELY AS A RESULT OF PICNICKERS FEEDING THEM, A NUMBER HAVE BECOME ACCUSTOMED TO SUCH TREATMENT AND THUS APPROACH PASSERS-BY FOR FOOD, HE SAID.

MR HIGGINSON SAID THAT MEASURES HAVE BEEN TAKEN BY THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT TO MINIMISE NUISANCE CAUSED BY THESE MONKEYS. NOTICES HAVE BEEN DISPLAYED AT PROMINENT LOCATIONS ADVISING PICNICKERS AND RESIDENTS NOT TO FEED OR TEASE THE MONKEYS, AND PARK WARDENS REGULARLY DISCOURAGE VISITORS FROM FEEDING THEM AND SIMILAR ADVICE IS GIVEN IN THE MASS MEDIA FROM TIME TO TIME.

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