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| March 2000 Relocation Some people not happy with rehousing efforts By Vien Wong RELATED ARTICLES: The Land Development Corporation launched redevelopment projects in the Argyle Street and Shanghai Street in Mong Kok and the “Seven Streets” area of Tsuen Wan. The Argyle Street/Shanghai Street redevelopment programme began in 1988. The Tsuen Wan Town Centre redevelopment project, also known as “Tsuen Wan Seven Streets” programme, began in mid-1997. Both projects are expected to be completed in 2003. The Land Development Corporation adopted a “caring approach” in acquisition, compensation and rehousing. The Land Development Corporation provided affected property owners “fair and reasonable acquisition offers”. In general it paid homeowners the market value of their original flats plus an allowance enabling them to buy a 10-year-old flat in the same area. The Land Development Corporation provided either compensation or rehousing arrangements for eligible tenants. Most eligible tenants who lived in the area of the Argyle Street/Shanghai Street redevelopment site were rehoused in a block built by the Land Development Corporation at 12 Soy Street. Comprised of 112 family flats and 172 dormitory units, residents of the Soy Street rehousing block enjoy a higher living standard. One resident living in the Soy Street rehousing building said he is satisfied with the rehousing arrangement. He used to live in very tiny quarters in Shanghai Street, but he got $30,000 in compensation from the Land Development Corporation. However, there are in fact many overcrowded flats in the rehousing block. For instance, one couple and their three daughters have to live in a double dormitory unit. When the mother immigrated to Hong Kong with one of her daughters in 1996, the husband and the other daughters had already been re-housed. Since the mother and daughter are not Hong Kong citizens, the Land Development Corporation refused their appeal for rehousing arrangement. Sharing a toilet and kitchen with people of other units the mother says is inconvenient. People living in Tsuen Wan’s “Seven Streets” area faced another problem. Many affected tenants of this district cannot be rehoused in Tsuen Wan due to lack of suitable flats within the district. Tenants have to draw lots for rehousing and some of them are allocated with a flat far away from their original home. However, tenants prefer staying in Tsuen Wan as a matter of convenience. Said Mr. Chen Yoh Wen, a member of Tsuen Wan District Council: “Sometimes the living condition of the residents don't change at all. “One goal of the project is to improve residents’ existing poor living conditions. However, many residents enjoy no improvement in this aspect.” Facing an inconvenient and unfamiliar living environment, some tenants prefer compensation to rehousing. One man who once lived in the San Tsuen Street in a room of only 60 square feet was originally offered a flat in Tseung Kwan O. Since he considered Tsueng Kwan O too far away from Tsuen Wan, he refused the offer and got a compensation of $130,000. Now he rents a room in Yi Pei Square in Tsuen Wan, an area full of old flats. Though there is not much improvement in terms of living conditions, Mr. Lee regards it is “not bad”. As residents want to preserve the accustomed environment as well as personal networks, they may refuse to receive the settlement if they have to move to another districts, according to Mr. Chen. “The LDC should build adequate houses for the affected people before they conduct any redevelopment, and there will not be so many quarrels over the arrangement,” Mr. Chen concluded. |
Many buildings could around the site of redevelopment projects are neglected or under poor maintenance. (Wong Sze Man)
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