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CONFIDENTIAL
THE CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL. ON EMERGING THE COACHES WERE STOP BY
POLICE AND THE OCCUPANTS WERE AGAIN ADVISED THAT TWO REPRESENTATIVE
COULD PROCEED TO FLAGSTAFF HOUSE TO PRESENT THE PETITION AND THE REMAINDER SHOULD DISPERSE. THE OCCUPANTS MADE IT CLEAR THAT THEY WERE ALL DETERMINED TO GO TO FLAGSTAFF HOUSE. POLICE THEN ESCORTED THE COACHES TO A POLICE STATION AND CHARGED THE OCCUPANTS WITH
UNLAWFUL ASSEMBLY CONTRARY TO SECTION 18 PUBLIC ORDER ORDINANCE.
6. 76 PERSONS CHARGED APPEARED IN COURT ON 8TH JANUARY, NO EVIDENE WAS OFFERED IN RESPECT OF 10 JUVENILES AND THE REMAINING 66 WILL
APPEAR FOR TRIAL ON 12TH FEBRUARY.
7. THROUGHOUT THE PERIOD THE POLICE HAVE EXERCISED RESTRAINT IN A
SITUATION IN WHICH THE ORGANISERS HAVE AIMED AT ATTRACTING
PUBLICITY FOR THE BOAT DWELLERS' CAUSE AND HAVE HAD AMPLE OPPORTUNI
TO MAKE REPRESENTATIONS TO THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AND THE GOVERNMENT
8. DETAILED INFORMATION ON GOVERNMENT HOUSING POLICY REGARDING
BOAT DWELLERS IS INCLUDED IN THE BRIEF MENTIONED IN PARA.1 ABOVE.
THE MAIN PROBLEM IS ONE OF CONTROL AS NEW SQUATTERS REPLACE BOAT
DWELLERS IN THE TYPHOON SHELTERS AS FAST AS REHOUSING TAKES PLACE.
IN 1960 THERE WERE 7800 SQUATTERS BOATS. IN THE INTERVENING
PERIOD, ALTHOUGH 80020 (80000) BOAT DWELLERS HAVE BEEN RESETTLED
ON LAND, THERE ARE STILL 2400 SQUATTER BOATS.
9. THE INFERENCE IS THAT PEOPLE ATTEMPT TO JUMP THE QUEUE FOR
PUBLIC HOUSING BY BECOMING BOAT DWELLERS, AND THIS IS A MATTER OF CONCERN, ESPECIALLY WHEN ANY PERSONS LIVING ON BOATS WHICH
ARE FOUND BY MARINE DEPARTMENT TO BE IN IMMINENT DANGER OF
SINKING ARE IMMEDIATELY SETTLED ON LAND. CONSIDERATION IS BEING
GIVEN TO MEASURES WHICH WILL ENABLE GOVERNMENT TO EXERCISE GREATER
CONTROL OVER THE SITUATION.
12. PRESENT HOUSING POLICY IS BASED ON THE NEED TO PROVIDE
SUBSIDISED PUBLIC HOUSING TO ALL WHO LIVE IN SUBSTANDARD
ACCOMMODATION. THIS INCLUDES NOT ONLY BOAT DWELLERS BUT LARGE
NUMBERS OF PEOPLE LIVING IN UNSATISFACTORY CONDITIONS ON LAND. GOVERNMENT IS SYMPATHETIC TO ALL, BUT THE NUMBERS INVOLVED, SWOLLEN BY RECENT TRENDS IN IMMIGRATION, INEVITABLY MEAN THAT
PRIORITIES MUST BE ESTABLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF FAIR TREATMENT.
MACLEHOSE
FILES:
H K & G D(6)
2 CONFIDENTIAL
COPIES TO:
HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE, LONDON