XN000022-1987-01-14 — Page 45

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 1987

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KOWLOON WALLED CITY CLEARANCE *****

THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAS ANNOUNCED A PLAN TO CLEAR THE AREA OF NORTH-EAST KOWLOON GENERALLY KNOWN AS THE KOWLOON WALLED CITY. FOLLOWING A SURVEY NOTICE ISSUED TODAY A PRE-CLEARANCE OCCUPANCY SURVEY IS BEING CONDUCTED BY THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT TO ESTABLISH WHO IS NOW RESIDENT THERE. DETAILED SCREENING WILL FOLLOW, TO ESTABLISH WHO SHALL BE ELIGIBLE FOR REHOUSING AND COMPENSATION. ALL ELIGIBLE PERSONS WILL BE REHOUSED AND COMPENSATED AS APPROPRIATE. REHOUSING ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE MADE ON THE BASIS USED FOR REDEVELOPMENT CLEARANCES IN URBAN AREAS.

THERE HAS BEEN LONGSTANDING, WIDELY SHARED CONCERN ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS IN THE WALLED CITY, INCLUDING FLOODING, UNSAFE STRUCTURES, POOR STANDARDS OF HYGIENE AND SERIOUS FIRE HAZARDS. THESE UNACCEPTABLE CONDITIONS HAVE FACED THE INHABITANTS OF THE WALLED CITY AND THOSE OF SURROUNDING AREAS WITH MANY PROBLEMS. CAREFUL STUDY HAS SHOWN THAT THE ONLY SOLUTION IS COMPLETE CLEARANCE. THIS WILL BE MANAGED IN THREE PHASES OVER A PERIOD OF THREE YEARS AND SHOULD BE COMPLETED BY MARCH 1990. THE AREA WILL NOT BE REBUILT BUT WILL BE REDEVELOPED INTO A PARK, POSSIBLY WITH SOME RELATED COMMUNITY USE.

THE GOVERNMENT PROPOSES TO ASK THE HOUSING AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH A SPECIAL COMMITTEE TO ADVISE THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT AND BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT ON THE CLEARANCE AND ON REHOUSING AND COMPENSATION ARRANGEMENTS. THE COMMITTEE WILL ALSO CONSIDER REPRESENTATIONS FROM RESIDENTS AND THOSE AFFECTED BY THE CLEARANCE.

WALLED CITY CLEARANCE AN IMPORTANT STEP

*****

THE CLEARANCE OF THE VERY RUN-DOWN AND DIRTY AREA+ OF KOWLOON WALLED CITY HAS GREAT SIGNIFICANCE FOR HONG KONG, THE ACTING GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID AKERS-JONES, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

SPEAKING TO REPORTERS BEFORE THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING, HE SAID: +IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE ALL WANTED TO DO FOR A VERY LONG TIME. SO I THINK IT IS A VERY IMPORTANT STEP THAT'S BEING TAKEN.

+EVERYONE IN HONG KONG SHOULD BE VERY GLAD THAT WE ARE GETTING RID OF THIS CANCER IN KOWLOON WHICH HAS WORRIED US FOR SO LONG.+

ASKED ...