****************************************************

The Government today (Tuesday) took enforcement action on the Closure Orders in respect of three squatter huts at Fu Yung Shan D.D. 453 Lot 1204 also known as 'Po Tai Kui', 'Fa Wah Sim Yuen' and 'Sheung Tin Chuk' in Tsuen Wan.

All entrances and exits to the huts had been sealed off by contractors of the Buildings and Lands Departments this morning, the Assistant Director of Buildings (Specialist), Mr Philip Lau Yiu-wah, said.

"Any person re-entering the huts before satisfactory completion of slope remedial works will risk their lives. Regular monitoring will be carried out by the Police.

"Slope remedial works may now be carried out without the original constraints due to safety considerations for the occupants of the squatter structures. The Buildings Department will pursue with the lot owner to expedite the necessary remedial works as soon as possible," he said.

Explaining the reasons for the enforcement action, Mr Lau said the prime concern was public safety.

"An adjoining slope has been declared as in immediate and obvious danger situation by the Geotechnical Engineering Office of the Civil Engineering Department following a landslip at two locations between the three huts in July 1997. The situations have not been improved to such an extent to allow the occupants to re-occupy the huts.

"The occupants have been made aware of today's operation and they should have removed all their belongings and valuables," he said.

Occupants were offered temporary accommodation in transit centre arranged by the Housing Department but none accepted the offer nor did they request for alternative housing arrangement or assistance of any nature from the government.

Mr Lau noted that in the past, the natural hillside was excavated and retaining walls constructed indiscriminately by occupants without getting approval from Government. There was no adequate drainage and the original vegetation cover was destroyed extensively. These activities resulted in potentially dangerous slopes and walls threatening the safety of occupants.

"In 1992, the slopes was inspected by geotechnical engineers from the Geotechnical Engineering Office under its programme of inspections of squatter huts on steep hillside. These slopes were found to be highly vulnerable to landslips in times of heavy rain.

"However, the occupants declined any rehousing attempt by the Housing Department and insisted on staying in the huts," Mr Lau said.

"In July 1997, two landslides occurred in the area. Landslide debris piled up against some of the huts and some retaining walls were undermined. This substantiated the decision that the huts should not be occupied and demonstrated a high level of danger.

"The occupants were therefore evacuated under Closure Orders and were approached once more by the Housing Department staff. They again refused to be screened and subsequently moved back to the huts. The Government has repeatedly advised the occupants to leave the huts in the interest of their own safety," he said.

"Since then, some excavations, filling and construction of stone walls have been carried out by the occupants without making any submissions to the Government for approval. The adequacy of such works has not been demonstrated and there is serious concern on the stability of the slopes and walls," Mr Lau added.

A meeting was held between representative of the occupants, Geotechnical Engineering Office and Buildings Department in January this year. Government explained again why closure of the huts was necessary. For the sake of safety of the occupants, any remedial works need to be adequately designed and constructed with Government's approval.

End/Tuesday, June 29, 1999

NNNN