TNAG-0913-FCO40-1123-Policy-on-housing-and-resettlement-in-Hong-Kong-1979 — Page 27

law-abinding industrialist was sacrificed.

Filled with grief and resentment,

the physically stronger were compelled to illegal deeds, and the weakers

became loiterers or even commit suicide. Recently in the demolition of a

shop in Shatin without compensation, a woman named Lau was in such exaspera-

tion that she suicided herself by strangulation (See Man Yan Chinese Daily

News issue dated 12th October 1978).

Moreover, innumerable were taken ill

or died because of incapability to resume business. Whose fault is this?

This is a tragedy created by those who rules.

6.

Cleverly creating titles levy "Miniatture-circuit-breaker fee" of

'Ampere fee".

In the early stage of resettlement there was no collection of

It was in about 1964, when the Department

the so-called "Ampere-fee".

cleverly invert a title to levy "Ampere-fee" at $30.00 per unit of

electricity. Those factories which consume more electricity had to pay

over $10,000.00 per factory (16 years ago $10,000.00 could suffice for the

purchase of 500 sq. ft. of privately-owned factory). The market price of

one circuit-breaker switch cost only several tens of dollars, yet the

Authorities charged almost $10,000.00 each. The high profit being as high

as 200 times the champion of cruel profit making in the world. Non-

payment of such fee would result in the disconnection of electricity

supply. To treat small-scale factories with the high-pressure tactic was!

If considering of resistance, it was just like a 3-year-

so profitable.

old child trying to resist an adult stronger. What can be done?

7.

The loss of industrial units and the expenses on construction of re-

settlement factory buildings was sufficient at that time for the

purchase of 2,000 sq. ft. factory premises.

Prior to the resettlement, the asset value of each factory

unit including installation amounted to an average of about $30,000.00.

During the period of demolition business was suspended. The wages and

severance payment for the workers, expenses on food and meals or removal,

etc. averaging to at least $20,000.00 per factory. Construction of the

resettlement factory premises (4 pillars) amounted to $9,000.00 per

4