TNAG-0913-FCO40-1123-Policy-on-housing-and-resettlement-in-Hong-Kong-1979 — Page 26

A.

Forced to suspend business during period of demolition and removal for

three complete months still without compensation

The larger of our factories had over 100 workers and the

smaller ones 10 odd workers. In average computation, the loss for the

wages and expenses every factory suffered for the 3 months amounted to at

least $20,000.00 average (according to current price index at that

time). This is visible loss. Resettled to the deserted new factory sites

workers left us; we had to train up newly engaged working hands

skilful

from the very beginning; inconveience of traffic; increase of transpor-

tation expenses; no telephone service in the new factories until after

several months; the loss of customers, etc., the production became normal

at least after one year of settlement

These are not computable.

V

all these are invisible loss.

Let us ask to whom can this group of samll-

scale industrial workers who possess low culture and very little knowledge,

who work on daybreak and rest whilst the sun sets down, who are kind and

gentle complain our bitterness? From whom can we ask for compensation?

The capital put up in re-constructing factory buildings after

5.

resettlement

The resettlement factory premises had only four pillars. In

addition the floor was convex and concave and not at all even. We had to

pave it in order to install machineries. No walls, no doors nor windows.

No water taps, no toilets and further no elevators (confirmed by proof

and photos and is 100% fact).

Homes pulled down (the majority of industrial families had

their homes at the side of the factory buildings and were demolished at the

same time). Factory buildings demolished. Workers left. We were only

no body. What strength we had to resist? We could only negotiate loans

from relatives and friends as capital to re-construct factories. The

construction cost was at an average of $3,000.00 per factory building unit

(according to price index 16 years ago). Some, who had no way to acquire

loans had to sell the white card (the rationing of factory buildings of 4

pillars) to others, and in case that there were no purchasers have only to

abandon it altogether. Thus, they became unemployed. A diligent and

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