XN000022-1987-04-07 — Page 6

TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 1987

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FUNDS SOUGHT FOR WALLED CITY CLEARANCE OFFICE

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THE FINANCE COMMITTEE WILL BE ASKED TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) TO ACCEPT THE FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS, ESTIMATED AT $148.4 MILLION, FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SPECIAL OFFICE FOR THE CLEARANCE OF THE KOWLOON WALLED CITY OVER THE FOUR FINANCIAL YEARS FROM 1986-87 TO 1989-90.

THE SPECIAL OFFICE, TO BE HEADED BY A DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, WILL COMPRISE FOUR DIVISIONS WITH STAFF FROM THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT, THE BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT AND THE REGISTRAR GENERAL'S DEPARTMENT.

IT WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR CONDUCTING SURVEYS WITH A VIEW TO DETERMINING THE ELIGIBILITY OF RESIDENTS AFFECTED FOR COMPENSATION AND REHOUSING DETERMINING THE LAND TITLES OF PROPERTY OWNERS RE HOUSING RESIDENTS AFFECTED ASSESSING AND PAYING DOMESTIC REMOVAL ALLOWANCE AND EX-GRATIA COMPENSATION ASSESSING AND PAYING COMPENSATION FOR LOSS OF INTEREST IN LAND HANDLING REQUESTS, REPRESENTATIONS AND COMPLAINTS OF REDIDENTS AND PHYSICALLY DEMOLISHING ALL THE STRUCTURES ON SITE.

IN CONNECTION WITH THE SETTING UP OF THE SPECIAL OFFICE, THE FINANCE COMMITTEE WILL BE ASKED TO APPROVE THE CREATION OF SIX DIRECTORATE POSTS AND 233 NON-DIRECTORATE POSTS IN THE FOUR DEPARTMENTS, TO PROVIDE STAFF TO PLAN, CO-ORDINATE AND IMPLEMENT THE CLEARANCE OPERATION.

IN ADDITION, THEY WILL ALSO BE ASKED TO APPROVE THE CREATION OF A NEW RECURRENT ACCOUNT SUBHEAD ENTITLED +CLEARANCE OF THE KOWLOON WALLED CITY+ TOGETHER WITH SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISION OF $17 897 000 TO MEET THE RECURRENT EXPENSES OF THE OFFICE, AND A NEW NON-RECURRENT COMMITMENT OF $7 859 000 FOR THE FITTING-OUT OF THE OFFICE.

OTHER ITEMS THAT THE FINANCE COMMITTEE WILL BE ASKED TO APPROVE ARE :

* THE FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS ESTIMATED AT $11 490 000 FOR

1987-88 AND $4 383 000 A YEAR THEREAFTER ARISTING FROM THE INCLUSION OF NEW BENEFICIARIES AND THE INCREASED RATES OF MAINTENANCE GRANTS PAYABLE FROM THE WAR MEMORIAL FUND;

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AN INCREASE IN THE VALUE OF AN OFFICER'S EFFECTS FOR WHICH INSURANCE CHARGES ARE REIMBURSIBLE TO $58 500 FOR UP TO THREE YEARS' SERVICE AND $3 900 FOR EACH SUBSEQUENT YEAR WITH EFFECT FROM MAY 1, 1987 AND

A NON-ACCOUNTABLE ENTERTAINMENT ALLOWANCE OF $12 000 PER MONTH FOR THE SPECIAL ADVISER TO THE GOVERNOR AND THE PAYMENT OF UTILITIES CHARGES FOR HIS OFFICIAL RESIDENCE ESTIMATED AT $5 000 PER MONTH FROM THE PUBLIC FUNDS.

RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE ESTABLISHMENT SUB-COMMITTEE AND THE PUBLIC WORKS SUB-COMMITTEE WILL ALSO BE PRESENTED FOR THE COMMITTEE'S APPROVAL.

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