XN000022-1995-04-28 — Page 26

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Order for removal of grave gazetted

The Government gazetted today (Friday) an order for the removal of a twin clan grave at Nim Wan for the construction of the West New Territories (WENT Landfill).

The order has been made as a last resort to enable the landfill construction work to proceed following the failure of negotiations since December 1991 with the Tang clan to produce an agreement for voluntary removal.

A government spokesman said: "The Government respects the customs of indigenous villagers and recognises the importance of the issue to them. We have offered to make ex-gratia payment of about $1.7 million to enable the villagers to relocate the grave.

"We have also offered to discuss with them the relocation of the grave to an alternative site. But, we have not been able to reach agreement at the many meetings we have since 1991.

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"The contractors have already deferred occupation of that part of the site where grave

is located three times. Further delay is now impossible."

The spokesman said WENT is a strategic landfill which will take care of Hong Kong's refuse disposal needs in the next 25 years. It was chosen after a careful and extensive site search.

"There is no alternative site and the WENT Landfill is essential to providing sufficient refuse disposal facilities. The capacity of the WENT Landfill would be reduced by one-third if we were unable to remove the grave.

"It is estimated that the cost of having to provide another landfill to make up for the loss of capacity would amount to $1.14 billion."

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The spokesman emphasised that the Government would like to come to an agreement for voluntary removal, as has been done in many other cases and is prepared to hold further discussions with the villagers.

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"But, time is running out and as a last resort the Government has to execute the order in the interest of the public," the spokesman said.

The order gazetted today is made under Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance.

End/Friday, April 28, 1995