Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Development, Mr Paul Chan, at a media session today (July 20) after attending a function celebrating Lo Pan's birthday:
Reporter: How do you think about this awful opposition (referring to the North East New Territories New Development Areas)?
Secretary for Development: When we set the figure, we did make reference to the previous compensation package offered to those affected by the high speed railway and also the border projects. At that time, when this amount was launched, it was considered by many people to be pretty generous, so we think our current proposed package is appropriate. My colleagues and I will go to Kwu Tung North and Fanling North to talk to the residents, to answer their questions and to further explain to them about their own particular cases, what would be the compensation, and if qualified, the settlement packages available to them.
Reporter: What if they still reject it?
Secretary for Development: I think we have a lot of explanations and lobbying works to do, and we will spare no effort in directly communicating with them, engaging them, to try to better understand their concerns and find more common grounds and solutions.
Reporter: What is the $600,000 compensation for?
Secretary for Development: The whole package is pretty comprehensive. For those land owners, they will get compensation in terms of the land being resumed by the Government. And for the $600,000, which is for those living in squatter areas, those who are qualified by reference to the structure and the residence period, will be eligible for this compensation. The amount could be varied according to individual circumstances, because not all of them are fully complied with the requirements.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Saturday, July 20, 2013
Issued at HKT 16:32
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