RESETTLEMENT OF SQUATTERS
CENTRAL AUTHORITY NEEDED
Tung Tau Resettlement Area,
In our issue of 1952, we published a review of the squatter problem up to the time that the Emergency (Reset tlement Areas) Regulations were passed in January 1952. We attempt- ed to give some idea of the extent and the significance of this pro- blem, the effect the "wild" squatter settlements were having on the
Even then, for a long time, it was economic life of the Colony, and outlined the measures that Govern- considered that Government's action should be restricted to the setting ment had taken to deal with the situation. Up to the beginning of aside of certain areas where some used to guage the extent of the pro- 1952, the whole matter had been control could be exercised over the treated as a nuisance, very tempor- be erected, but the building of these type and arrangement of the huts to ary in character due to political con-
huts was still to be left to private ditions across the border, and some- enterprise under the direction of the thing which would clear itself up au- tomatically as soon as conditions be- came favourable for the return of Even though Government's par- persons having been resettled. Making this floating population to homes in China.
then a great deal has been done by arbitrary average of five persons to
Government various
departments, a family. 60,000 units would have to particularly the Urban Council upon be built to accommodate these people. which the real burden rests, and var- Figuring an average cost of $2,000 ious public bodies and religious in- per unit, which includes the cost of stitutions, to regulate the various set- site formation, water supply and tlements and to bring some sort of other services, we arrive at the figure order out of the chaos that existed. of $120,000,000 which must be spent to provide such utility housing. This figure of $120,000,000-although ar- rived at by guess work, is, in our opinion, a basic figure that can be
Urban Council.
their ticipation has now become more posi- tive, the efforts that have been made up to now are still completely inade- quate to remedy the situation within a reasonable time.
However, it was soon realised that the problem was a much more serious one than at first appeared and that definite and active measures would have to be taken to control the situa- tlon, both in the interests of the wel- fare of the squatters themselves and the security of the Colony. Since
blem.
According to the report issued by the Director of Urban Services in the beginning of July, 7,571 cottages have so far been erected, a total of 37,140
all
allowances for the additional work that has been going on since then, we can assume that approxim mately 250,000 people still have to be resettled, that is approximately 50,000 units yet to be built, and $100,000,000 still to be spent.
The problem reduced to its simplest terms is that approximately 300,000 people are to be housed as cheaply as It has been suggested as an urgent possible in fire-resisting. weather- preliminary to adequate action that proof, sanitary quarters. Taking the a separate department be created to
47
—