0003230
G.F. 323
CONFIDENTIAL
6
(iv)
(~)
(vi)
potential focus of diseases whilst it lacks proper paved surfaces, drainage, piped water supply, ventilation and open space.
Labour Department : The Labour Department enforces legislation regarding the employment of women and young persons and undertakes periodical surveys of factories and industrial premises at intervals of six to twelve months. Factories are tolerated which would not be allowed elsewhere. Action has been contemplated to close down factories engaged in processes where there is serious fire hazard. Closure orders have been made but none has been enforced in recent years.
Education Department : The Education Department neither registers nor inspects regularly schools located within the Walled City, but is prepared to act in any case where a blatant disregard for the safety of school children is brought to light. Schools in the Walled City are unregistrable since it is impossible for their sponsors to obtain the certificate from the Director of Fire Services as required by the Education Ordinance. Sufficient primary school places exist in the immediate vicinity of Kowloon Walled City for children living within and without the Walled City. It is felt that there is room for an exception to be made to the general policy because of the fire risk to schools and that a statement by the Director of Fire Services that he is not in a position to provide reasonable protection would be a useful weapon and should be lput to the Schools Steering Committee in the context of proposals for closing schools. It should be remembered however that many of the schools are left wing run, and there would be opposition to closure.
Resettlement Department : The Resettlement Department does not conduct clearance operations within the Walled City and was instructed in July, 1967, to suspend demolition of structures in the "sensitive zone". A considerable number of new illegal structures has been built within the past six months, particularly in the Tung Tsing Road area, and it has been proposed that clearance be resumed. Resettlement Department policy should continue to be one of containing existing squatter or other illegal structures rather than clearance.
(vii) P.W.D. (Buildings Ordinance Office :- and
Crown Lands & Surveys)
The Buildings
Ordinance Office do not take action against illegal structures or extensions to existing buildings. Observations have shown that the methods of construction of many of the new buildings in the Walled City are
CONFIDENTIALmentary