Extra time for Mount Davis move refused

CALLS by Mount Davis residents, whose homes are to be demolished to improve slope safety, for increased moving allowances and extra time to make preparations have been rejected by the Housing Department.

'We will stand by the arrangements,' said a spokesman after 70 to 80 residents from Kung Man Tsuen held a three-hour protest outside department headquarters in Ho Man Tin yesterday.

There was no plan to increase the moving compensation or the time allotted for removal, he said.

Frustrated residents met for about 21/2 hours with Senior Housing Manager of the Temporary Housing Clearance Section, Leung Chun-chung, but came away with few answers.

'The whole meeting was a waste of time and we are very dissatisfied with the outcome - Leung gave no concrete answers,' said Yeung Wai-foon, a Central and Western District Board member.

He said that Mr Leung offered no reason why the residents were being required to move at such short notice.

'The department insists that the slopes are dangerous but says there is no immediate danger.

'So why are residents being forced to move within such a short space of time?' Mr Yeung said.

Residents had earlier accused the department of intransigence and riding roughshod over its own demolition timetable, ignoring what residents said were 'practical' problems.

These problems include new schooling for youngsters and consideration for the many elderly residents who might be left with no one to care for them.

Residents also requested that the Government up the moving allowance from the $2,510 to $6,830 presently being offered, to between $5,000 and $30,000 because of the hilly site.

'Even if we agreed to pay more, we might not be able to engage movers because of the terraced and steep incline of the area,' said one disgruntled resident.