XN000022-1985-08-08 — Page 9

THURSDAY, AUGUST 8, 1985

COMPENSATION CLAIM TURNED DOWN

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HE GOVERNMENT HAS AGAIN EXPLAINED TO A GROUP OF FORMER HANG SAI COTTAGE AREA PESIDENTS THAT THEIR CLAIM FOR COMPENSATION WAS TOTALLY UNFOUNDED.

A REPLY TO THE PETION BY THE RESIDENTS, THE SECRETARY FOR -OUSING MR PANG YUK-LING, SAID THEIR CLAIM HAD BEEN RE-CONSIDERED

V CAREFULLY BUT COULD NOT FIND ANY GROUNDS TO SUPPORT IT.

THE FORMER TAI HANG SAI COTTAGE AREA WAS DEVELOPED IN 1952 M THE HONG KONG SETTLERS HOUSING CORPORATION LTD. AT THE TIME THE GOVERNMENT UNDERTOOK WITH THE CORPORATION THAT IF THE HOUSES WERE CLEARED BY THE GOVERNMENT BEFORE THE EXPIRY OF 10 YEARS FROM

THE DATE OF THEIR ERECTION, THE HOUSES WOULD BE RE-PROVISIONED ELSEWHERE AT THE EXPENSE OF THE GOVERNMENT.

IN 1959, PART OF THE COTTAGE AREA WAS CLEARED TO MAKE WAY FOR REDEVELOPMENT BY THE COPPORATION. SINCE THE COTTAGES AFFECTED WERE DEMOLISHED WITHIN 10 YEARS FROM 1952, AN AGREEMENT WAS REACHED BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE CORPORATION TO REHOUSE THE AFFECTED OCCUPANTS IN THE CORPORATION'S HOUSING SCHEME.

IN 1974, THE REMAINING PART OF THE COTTAGE AREA WAS CLEARED. SINCE IT WAS A LONG TIME AFTER THE EXPIRY OF 10 YEARS FROM 1952. GOVERNMENT'S UNDERTAKING WITH THE CORPORATION IN 1952 DID NOT APPLY AND THE AGREEMENT IN 1959 HAD NO RELEVANCE TO THIS CLEARANCE.

PERSONS AFFECTED IN THIS SECOND CLEARANCE WERE TREATED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RELEVANT PREVAILING POLICY FOR CLEARANCE OF COTTAGE AREAS.

ALL RESIDENTS ELIGIBLE FOR RE HOUSING WERE ALLOCATED PUBLIC HOUSING FLATS AND THOSE ELIGIBLE FOR EX-GRATIA COMPENSATION WERE SO PAID.

THE REPLY LETTER REITERATED THAT WHETHER OR NOT THE CORPORATION ALLOCATED ITS HOUSING UNITS TO THE RESIDENTS INVOLVED IN THE SECOND CLEARANCE WAS A MATTER FOR THE CORPORATION TO DECIDE.

+ IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE GOVERNMENT AND AS SUCH, APPLICANTS WHO WERE NOT ALLOCATED UNITS BY THE CORPORATION HAVE NO CLAIM AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT,+ THE REPLY SAID.

SINCE OCTOBER 1973 THIS GROUP OF RESIDENTS HAS PETITIONED VARIOUS AUTHORITIES, INCLUDING THE PRIME MINISTER, THE GOVERNOR, THE UMELCO OFFICE, THE SECRETARY FOR HOUSING, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, THE ICAC AND THE LEGAL AID DEPARTMENT. BUT NO ONE CAN ASSIST THEM BECAUSE THEIR CLAIM IS GROUNDLESS.

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