XN000022-1997-04-30 — Page 80

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Answer:

Mr President,

Tenants affected by factory estate clearances have no legal right to compensation. The Housing Authority may make ex-gratia payments to affected clearees. In so doing, the HA distinguishes between tenants paying market rents and tenants paying lower rents (the latter being former clearees of squatter factories and cottage workshops). The ex-gratia payment granted is related to the financial loss suffered by the tenant, assessed in terms of the difference between the market rent and the rent paid. As a tenant already paying market rent normally suffers less than a tenant paying below market rent for a similar unit, the latter generally receives a higher ex-gratia payment. This arrangement has been implemented since 1982.

The HA determines the details of ex-gratia payment for each factory estate clearance having regard to individual circumstances. Ex-gratia payments for the factory estate clearances in Cheung Sha Wan and Yuen Long in 1990 and 1996 respectively follow the standard arrangement mentioned in paragraph 1 above. As the arrangement is fair and reasonable, there is no plan to review it at present.

End

Data on working population of new Chinese immigrants

Following is a question by the Hon Leung Yiu-chung and a written reply by the Secretary for Education and Manpower, Mr Joseph W P Wong, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

Regarding new arrivals from the Mainland who have resided in the territory for less than seven years, will the Government inform this Council:

(a)

of the current population of the above new arrivals in the territory;

(b)

of a breakdown of such new arrivals in employment by occupation and level of education; and

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