CONFIDENTIAL
similar question in the House of Commons on the
subject of housing (the relevant Hansard extract
although
is attached).
number of persons rehoused by the Government
It is worth noting that/the
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and Government aided agencies has more than
doubled (from approximately 750,000 to
approximately 1,700,000) since that question
was asked, the estimated number of squatters
today is only some 74,000 less than the 1963
figure. This situation is indicative of the
size of the problems which have faced the
Hong Kong Government in this sphere it is
(omtrolled
ن سیاسی ما ما
due to continued immigration over the years,
to the high birth rate (which is now falling)
and to movement out of overcrowded pre-war
tenements in the hope of qualifying for re-
settlement.
6. A separate note is attached which gives
some factual background information about the
housing problems and the course adopted by the
Hong Kong authorities to deal with them.
The information in that note may be freely used
if required.
Constitutional Impro vements
General
6. Hong Kong is a Crown Colony and under its
constitution there is no elected representation elected, the Executive &
on the Central Councils of Government. This has
given rise to difficulties in the administration
The Colony's
of such a highly complex and sophisticated
community as resides in the Coleny. However,
there can be no constitutional progressien
towards self-government in Hong Kong since
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Legislative Councils)
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