GR 385
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG 130445Z FEB 79
CONFIDENTIAL
TO IMMEDIATE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TELNO.256 OF 13 FEBRUARY,
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE LONDON.
HKK
360/2
RICEIVED IN RESI
13 FEB 29
24
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YOUR TELNO.137 : HOUSE OF COMMONS P.Q: BOAT DWELLERS.
1. WE UNDERSTAND THAT WILLIAMSON IS ALREADY IN POSSESSION OF A GENERAL BRIEF ON BOAT-DWELLERS VIA BRAY IN RESPONSE TO WILLIAMSON'S LETTER OF 25TH JANUARY. ALSO SEE OUR TELEGRAMS NO.207 AND 208 OF
6TH FEBRUARY. THE FOLLOWING FURTHER INFORMATION IS PROVIDED CN WHICH TO BASE A REPLY.
2. ALTHOUGH THERE WERE INDIVIDUAL APPROACHES TO VARIOUS GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS IN THE PAST, THE YAU MA TEI BOAT DWELLERS HAVE, WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF SOCO AND STUDENT BODIES, CAMPAIGNED FOR REHOUSING
THEY HAVE APPROACHED MARINE ALMOST CONTINUOUSLY SINCE MID-1977.
DEPARTMENT IN RESPECT OF THE SAFETY OF THEIR BOATS, HOUSING DEPARTMENT FOR REHOUSING, THE CITY DISTRICT OFFICE (HOME AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT) FOR GENERAL ASSISTANCE, AND GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT AND H. THE GOVERNOR WITH PETITIONS ON THE SAME.
3. THE RESPONSE HAS BEEN FOR MARINE DEPARTMENT TO INSPECT BOATS AND, WHERE A BOAT IS IN DANGER OF FOUNDERING, TO INFORM HOUSING DEPARTMENT WHO ARRANGE FOR REHOUSING OF THE FAMILY IN TEMPORARY HOUSING AREAS. 922 PERSONS FROM 111 BOATS IN YAU MA TEI HAVE BEEN THUS REHOUSED SINCE NOVEMBER 1977. OTHER THAN THIS THEY HAVE BEEN ADVISED THAT THEY CAN BE GIVEN NO SPECIAL PRIORITY OVER OTHER FAMILIES FOR REHOUSING AND SHOULD APPLY INDIVIDUALLY FOR PUBLIC
HOUSING.
CONFIDENTIAL
14.