The Lands Department (LandsD) announced today (November 1) the launch of the Squatter Occupants Voluntary Registration Scheme, which is open for applications from eligible occupants of squatter structures until October 31, 2019.
The Squatter Occupants Voluntary Registration Scheme is a one-off exercise that will last for one year to complement the Government initiative announced on May 10, 2018 to provide revised ex-gratia compensation and rehousing arrangements for domestic households in squatter structures affected by the Government's development clearance exercises. The revised arrangements include suitably extending the arrangements on non-means tested rehousing and ex-gratia compensation for domestic households in squatter structures to eligible domestic occupants residing in licenced non-domestic structures or in squatter structures recorded for non-domestic uses in the 1982 Squatter Control Survey (SCS).
A spokesperson for the LandsD said that to be eligible under the Scheme, domestic occupants should have been residing in licenced non-domestic structures or in squatter structures recorded for non-domestic uses in the 1982 SCS on May 10, 2016 or earlier.
The spokesperson added, "Domestic occupants residing in licenced non-domestic structures or in squatter structures recorded for non-domestic uses in the 1982 SCS are advised to apply for the Scheme as soon as possible. Only those occupants who have applied for the Scheme and satisfied its registration criteria will be considered eligible for the compensation and rehousing arrangements in Government's future development clearance exercises.
"Occupants who have applied for the Scheme and satisfied its registration criteria must still adhere to the requirements governing surveyed squatter structures under the prevailing squatter control policy, such as the requirement that prohibits any extension, addition or unauthorised alteration with materials not in compliance with the SCS record. Notwithstanding this, a change to the use of the squatter structures for residential purposes by the occupants who have applied for the Scheme and satisfied its registration criteria will not constitute a breach leading to cancellation of survey records of their squatter structures or demolition of these squatter structures as enforcement actions."
Guidance notes on the Scheme and application forms are obtainable at District Lands Offices, Clearance Offices and Squatter Control Offices of the LandsD, and at Home Affairs Enquiry Centres of the Home Affairs Department, or downloadable from the LandsD's website (www.landsd.gov.hk/en/vrs/vrs.htm). For enquiry, please call 2231 3392 or email to vrs-cu@landsd.gov.hk.
Ends/Thursday, November 1, 2018
Issued at HKT 8:00
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