TNAG-1060-FCO40-1310-Mass-Transit-Railway-in-Hong-Kong-1981 — Page 17

XCC(80) 27(0820-

General Problems

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nor Pagé 201

The general problems were: 24 APO (SI

!

(a) The lack of small flats in Tsuen Wan of a size and value

similar to those in the buildings resumed for purchase by the affected owners either for their own use or as replace - ment investment at the time of the resumption;

To add the (b) The compensation arrangements with both statutory and tresor and at Usex-gratia elements were complicated and difficult to-teor

queunte, diexplain; glede then mod sh

.30 JOX val 143 20 prodice of Beirenc ad ar sunktelush pilent

d

pling. -*- 10 ement ud salvorget in tall (c) The sharp increase in property prices after the date ofmob

reversion adversely affected those who held out for is additional statutory compensation;

(d) Although ex-gratia assistance in the form of the Capitalised

Interest Allowance (see paragraph 6(b)(iii) below) was losfi offered to owner-occupiers of domestic premises who bought replacement flats, this allowance did not cover the trium mighty full difference between statutory compensation and theart

turovalue of new premises, generally bigger and of higherblind

quality, that were available in the marketyr

"!";

(e) There was a general feeling among owners that as they

were being compelled to give up their property they should receive more than would be appropriate in a "willing seller" situation;

•

duoc te gewen Metalom:

(f) The fact that the site was required for Mass Transit

Railway purposes led to a belief that the Mass Transit Railway would be prepared to increase Government's offer;

hmu(g). The existence of a channel of appeal to the Lands Tribunal

or was of little value as the Tribunal must work on the basis verathul you of statutory compensation. Also the Lands: Tribunal was

chasing seen by those affected by the clearance as another arm of t Una noble Government and not as an independent body;muovo" qbeiqzu animola „

gatewo. . to wi(h): Outside, interference raised false hopes and delayed settle

ment; and

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un wollte e

;

(i) Relations with the press were good but they were given an

inevitably complicated Government explanation on one hand Hand oversimplified and inaccurate statements by the owners

and residents and their supporterstes dues to amade' oʻra