HONG KONG FAIR COLPENSATION DELEGATION TO BRITAIN
(Summary)
Shaftsbury Hotel, Honmouth St. WC2H 9hD.
Tel: (01) 836 4422.
A delegation from Hong Kong funded by public subscription is in London seeking support and publicity in a case of Government compulsory purchase of their homes and businesses. The Hong Kong Government is offering them terms of compensation so far below market values that over 200 familes are facing bankruptcy and great hardship.
Their visit is a last desperate measure forced on them by the lack of independent arbitration and appeals procedures in Hong Kong and the hostile and uncaring attitude of the Hong Kong Government.
(陳萬レ
CHAN man-man,
1. The group currently lobby in London consists of r ), Mr. LAW Yee-hoo,() and Mr. CHAN Yu-mung, (PR7% 18). With them as adviser is Hong Kong Elected urban Councillor Elsie Elliott, C.B.E.
2. The persons represented. The group represent directly about 170 families of the Tsuen Wan town in the New Territories in Hong Kong. Indirectly, it represents all other residents faced with similar problems resulting from the HK Govt.'s re-entry (1.e. compulsory purchase) of land for public works, public buildings or facilities as well as private commercial development or business. The group also indirectly represents the many citizens who fear the intimidatory tactics of the Government. These tactics include verbal warnings or threats, alleged attempts at winning over supporters for advantages and police investigation. They are aware that on at least two occasions recently, people peacefully protesting against unjust treatment have been routed with teargas. On other occasions, peaceful protesters have been arrested and charged with "Unlawful Assembly" a relic of the Emergency Regulations enacted during the 1967 Riots.
3. The History of the Present Case. The delegates and the people they repres sent are flat owners in seven buildings in Sai Lau Kok, one of the most popular areas of Tsuen Wan. The land was originally to be claimed for the Mass Transit Railway (IIR) for a railway station, but later it was found to be intended for a depot for the MTR. The MTR has been allocated four sites for depots and each includes a commercial housing development scheme these schemes have already netted a clear £100 million profit. Undoubtedly this fourth scheme at Sai Lau Kok will bring comparable profits while the original flat-owners will loose their flats. Since the scheme was announced about a year ago, several latowners have suiiered mental breakdowns. Une of these, a widow supporting her daughter at college, has lost her livelihood which depended on her flat. Her tennant was told by the Govt. last year not to pay rent since the property had been resumed by the Govt. She now shows psychiatric symptoms.
In informing the flatowners of their intentions, the Govt. promised to compensate them flat for flat, shop for shop. This naturally led the owners to believe that the new premises built on their original site would be allocated to the original flat and shop owners. Later they found out that no actual flat or shops would be offered, but that cash compensation would be offered instead. In Hong Kong, people will queue for four days to register to buy a flat. It was therefore impossible for all owners to be successful in finding a flat for purchase; moreover the compensation offered was well below the market value, being arbitrarily based on prices in August 1978. By March 1979 these prices had risen from £23 per sq.ft. to between £42 & £54 per sq.ft. against compensation offered at £31 per sq.ft. Prices are still rising. With regard to the shops, the Govt. offered £60 per sq.ft. as against the market price of £200 to £250 per sq,ft. The Govt. has insisted on using its own assessments and ignoring the actual cost in the market.
In the opinion of some observers, this level of compensation is a clear violation of the terms of the Treaty of Peking 1998 which guarantees afix fair compensation for land resumed in the New Territories.
The residents therefore feel that the HK Govt. has reneged on its promise of flat for flat and shop for shop. They also feel aggrieved at many other aspects of the case. As the deadline of July 15th 1979 approaches, the fear and concern of the flatowners increases. They fear that (a) they will be forced to submit by heavyhanded measures; (b) that water and electricity will be cut off; and (c) access to the area will be closed. Already Govt. Departments have been advised to withhold business licences and sub-tennants advised not to pay rent.
These hardworking people have been good citizens, trying to improve their own circumstances by their own efforts and keeping the law. They have been willing to co-operated with the Govt., but have had their faith in the Govt. dadly shaken by the latter's failure to carry out its mittments.
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