6.
Mrs Elliott moved a Motion
'asking Government to set
up immediately a Working Party for the purpose of reviey the policies laid down in the White Paper 'Review of Policies for Squatter Control, 1964', in the light of present day (Conditions & also to examine the management of Resettlement Estates'. She claimed that there now exists a crisis 'as a result of unreasonable rent increases in the private sector, & because
4
of the slowing up in recent years of the resettlement programme in all its priorities. She believed that great numbers were in housin need, no longer the poorest only, but'also the middle class, some of whom pay half their earnings in rent. 'She said that 'according to the rather conservative estimates of the 1970 Housing Board Report, about 1 million people are at present living in substandard conditions', and she estimated that 'in the next 5 years at least 21-3 million people will need housing of reasonable standard such as Low Cost housing or better'. However, provision is only being made for a little over I million units. Therefore, she claimed that Hong Kong faces absolutely critical stage in housing shortage 'and there is need for a 'crash programme'. (Pages 3566).
7.
an
The motion after much discussion was subsequently carried 12 votes for and 5 abstentions (including the Chairman of the Urban Council and the Commissioner for Resettlement). It is notable that they did not however dispute the substance of the majority of Members' views concerning the seriousness
of the situation.
8. I close by quoting one of the Member's (Mr Sales) contention that no other body in Hong Kong has accumulated as much experience as the Urban Council has in public housing; so, if the Urban Council has in Select Committees & in this public meeting voiced our serious concern about the present situation then it seems to me that it would be wise for the Government to take heed & proceed accordingly... 'The great number of questions..put today..on the subject of resettlement & housing generally should be proof enough that this Council is very seriously disturbed about the present situation.'
19.
In view of all this I suggest we keep close watch on the situation. Do you think that we should express concern directly to Hong Kong ?
für Raumfurt: Aliens do your freigners
"k-up
with the latest
squattes in 187,000
Мізино
о
for
the "Motorpotten avor" of
ples? And 25/4.
APBhamber
(A.P.B. Lambert)
25 August, 1971