XN000022-1992-04-02 — Page 10

THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 1992

WALLED CITY CLEARANCE PROGRESSING SMOOTHLY

* *

MR

THE DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS (SPECIAL DUTIES), PHILIP CHOK, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY) THAT HE WAS PLEASED WITH THE PROGRESS OF THE KOWLOON WALLED CITY CLEARANCE SO FAR.

"WITH TWO MORE PHASES ΤΟ GO, THE GOVERNMENT HAS ALREADY

RECOVERED 7,400, OR 87 PER CENT OF THE 8,500 PREMISES IN THE WALLED CITY.

"THE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN OFFERING VERY REASONABLE COMPENSATION PAYMENTS WHICH HAVE BEEN REGULARLY UPDATED TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF CHANGING PRICES," HE NOTED.

HE REMINDED THOSE CLEAREES STILL REMAINING IN PHASE IIB OF THE CLEARANCE TO LEAVE BY APRIL

BY

6 EVEN IF THEY HAVE NOT ACCEPTED THE GOVERNMENT'S COMPENSATION OFFERS.

HE STRESSED THAT THE CLEARANCE

ENFORCED ON APRIL 7.

DEADLINE WILL BE STRICTLY

AT PRESENT, 209 HOUSEHOLDS REMAIN IN PHASE IIB OF THE WALLED CITY OF THESE, ONLY 52 HOUSEHOLDS HAVE YET TO ACCEPT THE GOVERNMENT'S COMPENSATION OFFERS.

"THOSE PHASE IIB CLEAREES WHO REMAIN DISSATISFIED WITH THE

HAVE GOVERNMENT'S COMPENSATION OFFERS WILL

UP ΤΟ

6 JUNE

EITHER TO SUBMIT DOCUMENTS TO SUBSTANTIATE A CLAIM FOR HIGHER COMPENSATION OR TO APPEAL TO THE ASSESSMENT REVIEW BOARD.

"ANY APPEALS SUBMITTED AFTER THE DEADLINE WOULD NOT ENTERTAINED BY THE GOVERNMENT, MR CHOK SAID.

BE

ON A RUMOUR THAT FORMER CLEAREES WHO ARE SLEEPING ON THE PAVEMENTS OF THE WALLED CITY WILL RECEIVE ADDITIONAL BENEFITS FROM THE GOVERNMENT, MR CHOK DENIED THAT THIS WAS TRUE.

"THESE PEOPLE ARE DEMANDING FOR MORE THAN THEIR ENTITLEMENT. WE HAVE NO AUTHORITY TO ACCEDE TO SUCH DEMANDS, HE SAID.

11

THE KOWLOON WALLED CITY CLEARANCE IS BEING UNDERTAKEN PHASES. THE DEADLINE FOR THE FINAL PHASE WILL BE ON JUNE 1.

THE PROJECT IS ESTIMATED TO COST OVER $3.3 THE GOVERNMENT HAS PAID OUT $2.64 BILLION.

IN

FOUR

BILLION.

SO FAR,

0

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