}
CONFIDENTIAL # #
Technical difficulties in demolition work
0. Unlike the three new buildings already cropped, the 13 buildings have long been sold and are therefore discociated from their original developers Should it be decided that height reduction would be tech,ically feasible and should be carried out, Government would probably have to undertake the demolition work by itself. This would be costly. Besides, as most of the buildings are located within the Walled City, away from the main roads and, in some cases, sandwiched between two or three other buildings, there would be little room for manoeuvre, Because of this, and the probable difficulty of having outside contractors working in the Walled City, it appears to be more practical to consider employing local, unregistered contractors for the job. This arrangement could probably reduce the cost involved and shorten the work period. But PWD would probably have to waive the normal tender requirements and, in order to ensure that the work is up to standard,"Don to station professional staff for supervisory purposes.
Temporary accommodation for occupants of
lower floors.
11.
It will probably not be necessary to require the occupants of lower floors to move out while demolition work is being carried out on the upper floors. However, if their temporary removal is necessary it would seem to be legally feasible under Section 5 of Cap 301 for DCA to give ample advance notice in order to permit the voluntary evacuation of the building. In practice it is most unlikely that occupants would be prepared to vacate their flats unless proper alternative accommodation were provided. Although the size of the problem would be substantially reduced if the exercise were carried out by stages, it is imporative that a standing offer of temporary accommodation can be made. The use of permanent accommodation for this purpose would be most unwise and the provision of suitable temporary accommodation will need very careful consideration.
Possibility of CPG interventic
..
12. Although the CPG did not intervene in the exercise against the unoccupied buildings, it might well feel obliged to indicate some form of opposition if requested by the -wing Kaifong Committee, especially if the latter is approached by a large group of grumbling residents from the occupied buildings. At the height of Government action against two unoccupied buildings in 1975, it was alleged that certain developers had pledged financial “ support for despatching a special delegation to Canton to solicit assistance from the Chinese authorities; recent indications are that the Kaifong Committee will most probably try to make capital out of any possible grievance of the residents affected to regain lost ground.
Further follow-up
13. The CPG intervened decisively in 1962/3 when the Government sought to clear up the Walled City. It was during the course of this confrontation that the Kaifong Committee emerged. Following protests by this Committee
/and representations......
CONFIDENTIAL
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