२
C.S. 41A
$2500077
10,000-5/69-B70149
And bus
REF.
Temp.Secret 31/69
15.
CONFIDENTIAL
RECREATED IN
IR CLV No.51
17 OCT 1969
Dear Janey HKK 1) 31
1/31
Kowloon Walled City and the
Adjoining Areas
28
COLONIAL SECRETARIAT
LOWER ALBERT ROAD
HONG KONG
1 October 1969.
RECEIVED IN
REGISTRY 6.50 140 T 1969
TEA
I attach two copies of a paper setting out our policy on the Kowloon Walled City and neighbouring areas. The following brief additional explanation may be useful.
2.
So far as Hong Kong law is concerned the Kowloon Walled City is as much part of the Colony and subject to the jurisdiction of the Hong Kong Government as any other part. But in practice we recognise that action by the Government in the Kowloon Walled City may cause trouble with the communists and with the Chinese Government. We have therefore not enforced the law fully (see para. 5(b) of the enclosed paper). Consequently the Walled City is an insanitary, over-crowded blot on the landscape. But the area around the Walled City is not much different. It too is insanitary and over-crowded. We have therefore decided to begin a programme of clearance and re-building in the area outside the Walled City where there is no argument about our jurisdiction. This programme is described in para. 4(b)-(f) of the enclosed paper. It will take about five years to carry out this clearance and reconstruction. There will no doubt be the usual problems involved in clearing squatters. The proximity of the Walled City may stimulate the communists to make a special effort to exploit any grievances but we do not expect any special difficulties. There will be no grounds for claiming that the area being cleared belongs to the Walled City.
3.
At the end of that period the small area of the Walled City will be an isolated slum surrounded by modern buildings and it will be necessary to decide what to do with it. Planning for that eventuality will start about two years from now and will take account of the political problems involved.
4.
During these five years governmental action inside the Walled City will continue on much the same basis as now, as described in para. 5(b) of the enclosed paper.
We should
J. Murray, Esq., CMG,
Far Eastern Depart ment,
Foreign & Commonwealth Office,
LONDON, S.W.1.
CONFIDENTIAL
/contd...
3