XN000022-1994-12-19 — Page 7

- 6

Illegal structure occupants urged to register with Housing Department

The Director of Buildings, Mrs Helen Yu, today (Monday) urged occupants of illegal rooftop structures affected by the clearance in Tsuen Wan to register as soon as possible with the Housing Department for rehousing in their own interest.

"Since 1991, the Government has been conducting major clearances of illegal structures, including those on rooftop.

"However, there is no need for anyone affected by the clearances to sleep out in

the street.

"The Housing Department's rehousing policy provides that nobody needs to be homeless. But those in need must come forward to register with the Housing Department," Mrs Yu said. Mrs Yu's appeal was echoed by the Tsuen Wan District Officer, Mr Thomas Chow, who also urged the occupants to approach the Tsuen Wan District Office for assistance if necessary. The occupants have been given more than one year's notice of today's operation. Regrettably, many of them have not registered with the Housing Department.

The appeal followed a number of meetings between the occupants, their supporters and officials from the Buildings and Housing Departments on rehousing arrangements.

The latest meeting took place this afternoon at the Princess Alexandra Community Centre, but to no avail.

Earlier, staff of the Buildings Department and the District Office, assisted by the Police, the Housing Department and the Social Welfare Department, managed to persuade occupants to leave six illegal structures on the roofs of Tak Yan Building and Cheuk Ming Building. After that, government contractors began demolition of the

structures.

During the operation, Housing Department officials were on site to register the rooftop structure occupants, and so were personnel from the Social Welfare Department to offer other assistance.

In the operation, 16 illegal rooftop structures were being pulled down in the interest of the safety of the occupants and the many residents of the two buildings.

End/Monday, December 19, 1994