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PART I (CONT'D)
Subject
6. Squatter
Control
7. Improvements to semi- permanent
Squatter Areas
Purpose
To prevent new building or extensions to squatter structures in sensitive areas. Elsewhere to maintain a balance between new squatting and the cost of control in terms of both staff and public housing resources.
To monitor the provision of services to squatter areas and to effect improvements where necessary and practicable.
Progress Made & Present Position
Intensive Patrol Areas are being kept under control with difficulty. In East Kowloon hut-building racketeers continue to out- number the demolition force. Demolition teams have been deployed from New Territories districts to assist. As a result, nearly 10,000 structures were demolished during the quarter. The stock-taking exercise of post- 1976 structures in all General Patrol Areas was completed in September. This shows a growth of 20,900 domestic huts since 1976, 90% of them in east and central Kowloon. Police continue to assist Squatter Control staff and 169 arrests were made leading to persons being charged with building squatter huts and excavation of Crown Land. On 1st October 1981 the Housing Department assumed responsibility for squatter control for the whole territory.
The
In July responsibility for co-ordinating and monitoring the provision of services to squatter
HD will areas was transferred from HAB to HB. require staff for this purpose and a submission seeking the creation of additional posts to start the necessary planning is being prepared. In the meantime the possibility of providing fire breaks in the most vulnerable squatter areas in East Kowloon is being investigated; special arrangements have been made by WSD to ensure an adequate supply of water to squatter areas during the current restrictions; and considerable progress has been made with the programme to provide a legal supply of electricity to squatter areas in Kowloon and on Hong Kong Island.
Next Quarter's Target
To review present methods with the aim of enforcing much tighter control over new squatting.
To obtain approval for and to recruit the planning staff, with a view to devising programme of improvements.
B
CONFIDENTIAL
機密