TNAG-0912-FCO40-1122-Policy-on-housing-and-resettlement-in-Hong-Kong-1979 — Page 44

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deceive us of accepting these terms, it offered us "fees in compensation for inconvenience caused”, “removal expenses", "fees for interior furnish- ing", "stamp-duty, etc.", as well as the so-called "exgratia payment or special allowance". Finally, it also devised the trick of "revaluation by survey and measurement". (Note 3) All these are but tricks with figures to cheating the ignorant flat-owners. If Government had been solved on the spot, and with ease, too. Why did Government have to make itself a laughing-stock in this respect?

Later on, our clever Government also realized that the first valuation was entirely nonsense. Therefore, on 9th January, 1979 we were notified by post that they had revalued our flats. The second valuation (HK$310.00 persq. ft.) was slightly higher than the first. The difference was about fifty dollars per sq. ft. Here is something which shows how Government contracdicted itself. The assessment of premises were sticked to assess the market price of 12th Nov., 1978. In other words, any rise in market price since then is not to be taken into account by the Government. At the same time, vaulation of our premises was completely based on the view points of the Government's professionals, who ignored any of our sugges- tions altogether. (Note 4)

After about sixty of our flat-owners were cheated to purchase the dweling units in Allways Garden; some of the owners, demanding to have accommodation in public estates, but they had been subjected to threats and pressure by Housing Authority, (Note 5) and disputes with tenants. (Note 6) Under all these unfavourable conditions and disappointed with what the "Anti-demolition Committee” had done, we set up, on 8th March, 1979, about 170 property owners, the "Property-Protection Committee of the Seven Buildings at Sai Lau Kok", with the help of Mr. Chung Sai-kit Augustine, Urban Councillor, and held a press con- ference on 22nd March, 1979. (Note 7) We protested against Govern- ment's “flat-for-flat" and "shop-for-shop" swindle, pointing out that its scheme of conpensation was unreasonable and extremely unfair. We also contacted a number of high-ranking officials of the M. T. R. Office on 28th March, 1979 to discuss matters relating to compensation and accom- modation in public estates. (Note 8) All our efforts have not achieved any breakthrough yet, but we are still doing our best to fight for our right and justice.

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