RESTRICTED
XCR (77)64
- 4
Apart from the above, all owners will be offered compensation for the loss of their property calculated at full market value taking into account the age and condition of the property.
8
The Director of Public Works has estimated the costs of acquisition together with compensation for disturbance and ex-gratia cash payments at $23 million, which expenditure will be met from the Society's $100 million loan fund already approved by Finance Committee. In addition, the Society will be required to pay the costs of acquisition of the five reverted properties mentioned in paragraph 3 above, which was $0.8 million,
9
In view of the large number of individual lot owners and occupants affected, acquisition by negotiation in most cases is unlikely to succeed and the institution of resumption proceedings is therefore recommended.
Public Relations
10
The Director of Home Affairs does not think there will be strong opposition to the project. The flat owners will be compensated for the loss of their property calculated at full market value taking into account the age and condition of the property. The owner-occupiers are unlikely to welcome the scheme, but as occupiers, they will be offered, in addition to owners' compensation, occupiers' advance cash payments plus rented accommodation in public housing under current policy. With the amounts offered, they should be able to buy a similar and comparable flat outright or make a substantial down-payment on a new flat such as those in Mei Sun Lau. Some of the tenants in pre-war buildings have in fact applied for low cost housing, and as the project will give them the option of either purchasing domestic units in Mei Sun Lau building or rented accommodation in the Housing Authority or the Housing Society estates, they may even welcome the project.
11
As the Housing Society has been trying to acquire pro- perties by voluntary negotiation in the area, the news of the proposed redevelopment scheme will come as no great surprise. When the resump- tion notice is gazetted, the Society will arrange for a suitable press release about its scheme, emphasising that the object of the scheme is to improve the living environment in the area and to provide better accommodation for a much greater number of people. At the same time, departments involved and the City District Officer, with the assistance of the Sai Ying Pun Area Committee and the four mutual aid committees in the buildings affected by the clearance, will ensure that everybody is aware of their rights or entitlements.
C.S. 84
RESTRICTED
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