Press Releases

New criteria for ex-gratia allowance to pig and poultry farmers approved

The Finance Committee approved today (March 7) a new eligibility criteria for the granting of ex-gratia allowance to pig and poultry farmers affected by land resumption and clearance (the EGA).

Speaking on the new criteria, a spokesman for the Health, Welfare and Food Bureau said: "In land resumption and clearance exercises, the affected pig and poultry farmers legitimately operating on private agricultural land whose farm structures are not covered in the 1982 squatter control survey conducted by the Housing Department (HD) are now also eligible for the EGA."

Before the Finance Committee's approval, only pig and poultry farmers whose structures were surveyed in 1982 by HD are eligible for the EGA. The Bureau conducted a review and considered that the arrangement warranted a change.

"We welcome the Finance Committee's approval to our proposal. The new eligibility criteria will facilitate land resumption and clearance which in turn will help expedite development projects. This will bring benefits to the overall economy," the spokesman added.

The new eligibility criteria will apply to all on-going and future Government land resumption and clearance exercises. Currently, the Deep Bay Link project is the only on-going land resumption and clearance exercise involving pig and poultry farmers legitimately operating on private agricultural land whose farm structures are, however, not covered in the 1982 squatter control survey.

End/Friday, March 7, 2003
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