TNAG-0856-FCO40-1066-Construction-of-underground-railway-system-in-Hong-Kong-1979 — Page 74

Blake's Visit

-m" Blacko

Brief Prepared in H.K

INFORMATION PAPER

•

173,2

SAI LAU KOK

115.

HKKO

15 OCT 1979

RY

INDEX

PW15/10

Background

No

In July 1977 Government accepted the recommendation of the Mass Transit Railway Corporation that the Modified Initial System be extended to Tsuen Wan. After detailed studies a site for the construction of the Tsuen Wan MTR depot and rail tracks was located. In order to make this site available. Seven multi-storey buildings at Sai Lau Kok have to be cleared and demolished. The affected buildings are: Tsuen Shing Mansion, Cheong Shun Mansion, Cheong Wo Mansion, Cheong Lung Mansion, Cheong Hing Mansion, Cheong On Mansion and Cheong Ning Mansion. In order that the site may be handed over to the MTR on schedule it is essential that the buildings are vacated by the beginning of October 1979.

2.

The buildings comprise 339 upper floor domestic flats, 50 ground floor shop/workshop premises and 73 temporary domestic structures (most of which are on rooftops). Their original population was about 3,000 people from 600 families.

4.

3.

The decision to clear the buildings was taken in January 1978 and the owners and occupiers officially notified shortly afterwards. The buildings reverted to the Crown on 12 November 1978 though the occupants were allowed to remain in the premises until they were actually required and whilst necessary arrangements for rehousing and compensation were made.

Government officials from various departments, but principally from the New Territories Administration, the Mass Transit Office of the PWD and the Housing Department contacted those affected at the outset in order to explain their rights, provide details of compensation, allowances, rehousing and all matters relating to the clearance. The result is that most have accepted the removal package offered. A small minority are still, however, seeking improved terms.

Compensation Terms Offered by the Government

5.

The compensation and allowances offered to the occupants of the buildings are both comprehensive and complex. Full details are given in appendix I attached.

6.

Any owner who considers that the compensation for his premises is too low has a right of appeal to the Lands Tribunal; the Government has offered to pay the legal expenses of an owner making such an appeal and the fee of a professional valuer employed by an owner to assist him in preparing his claim. It has also

offered to pay to an owner the full amount of the assessed value of his premises without prejudice to his right of appeal to the Lands Tribunal. This is to ensure that an owner does not suffer from a rising property market whilst waiting for his appeal to be determined by the Lands Tribunal.