XN000022-1985-12-18 — Page 7

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1985

+THE TOTAL AMOUNT RANGED FROM $1 800 FOR A ONE OR TWO-PERSON FAMILY TO $2 200 FOR A FAMILY WITH MORE THAN FIVE PERSONS, HE SAID.

ALSO,

THE RENTS OF THEIR EXISTING FLATS WERE FROZEN AT THE CURRENT LÉVEL.

+FOR FIXED TERM SHOP TENANCIES, THEY CAN BE TERMINATED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE TENANCY AGREEMENT BY GIVING THREE MONTHS' NOTICE WITHOUT ANY LEGAL OBLIGATON TO PAY COMPENSATION, HE SAID.

BUT, HE ADDED, THE AUTHORITY HAD DECIDED THAT THESE SHOP TENANTS WOULD BE PAID AN EX-GRATIA ALLOWANCE EQUIVALENT TO 15 MONTHS' CURRENT EXCLUSIVE RENT.

MR PANG SAID THIS RATE OF PAYMENT WAS FAR MORE GENEROUS THAN THAT USED IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR IN COMPARABLE CIRCUMSTANCES.

THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT WAS ALSO LOOKING INTO THE QUESTION OF SEVERANCE PAY THAT MAY ARISE IN SOME CASES, HE SAID.

MR PANG SAID THAT ALL SHOP TENANTS WERE FREE TO TERMINATE THE IR TENANCIES ANY TIME BETWEEN NOW AND THE FINAL REMOVAL DATE,

THIS, HE SAID, WOULD NOT AFFECT THE ARRANGEMENTS APPLICABLE TO THEM AND, RENTS FOR ALL SHOPS AFFECTED WERE FROZEN AT THE CURRENT LEVEL.

+ IT IS ESTIMATED THAT THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF ALLOWANCES PAYABLE TO DOMESTIC AND COMMERCIAL TENANTS WOULD BE ABOUT $69 MILLION, + MR PANG ADDED.

HE SAID THAT THE EFFECT ON THE WAITING LIST AND OTHER ALLOCATION QUOTAS WOULD BE TEMPORARY ONLY, BECAUSE NEW REPLACEMENT ACCOMMODATION BUILT ON THE CLEARED SITES AND A NUMBER OF NEW SUPPLEMENTARY SITES WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE FROM THE THIRD YEAR ONWARDS.

MR PANG ESTIMATED THAT MORE THAN 14 500 REPLACEMENT FLATS WOULD BE PRODUCED AND THAT THEY WOULD BE ADDITIONAL TO THE CURRENT ANNUAL PRODUCTION TARGETS.

+EFFORTS ARE CONTINUING TO SECURE MORE SUPPLEMENTARY SITES IN THE URBAN AREA TO MEET THE SHORTFALL, MR PANG SAID.

+

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