Residents affected by a massive urban renewal plan will be allowed to negotiate with the Government over the amount of compensation they receive, a leading official said yesterday. They would even be funded to appeal to the Lands Tribunal if disputes arose, Secretary for Planning, Environment and Lands Gordon Siu Kwing-chue said. Unveiling details of the Government's plan to demolish urban slums, Mr Siu said they would not make any 'one-off' offer to owners and residents. 'It will certainly not be a 'one-off' offer and we will even use public funds to help them protect their own interests,' he said. Director of Lands Bob Pope said: 'We will make a fair market-value offer.' He said an independent surveyor would be hired to determine the level of compensation if residents were unhappy with the terms. They could further pursue their cause with the Lands Tribunal and the Government would pay all related charges. He said the proposed urban renewal authority would not be involved in the process. Government chief town planner Lee Tak-keung said the compensation offer would be enough for owners to buy a 10-year-old flat of the same size in the area of redevelopment. There are fears the interests of owners and residents may not be well protected as the authority, to be created next year, will be empowered to evict home-owners refusing to accept compensation offers. About 200 projects have been identified for the next 10 years, affecting 30,000 families, or 105,000 residents. Up to 2,200 buildings will be demolished and 11 hectares of land will be needed for rehousing. Mr Siu said the Government had identified nine target areas. They are Tsuen Wan; Shamshuipo; Tai Kok Tsui; Yau Ma Tei; Hunghom and Ma Tau Kwok; Yau Tong; Kwun Tong; Wan Chai and Causeway Bay; and Sai Ying Pun and Sheung Wan. The largest will be at Hunghom and Ma Tau Kok, about the size of Tsim Sha Tsui.