COMMUNICATIONS
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and clear debris. The United States Navy also sent a small contingent.
Some 72,000 people registered themselves with the Social Welfare Department as being homeless, but it must be assumed that in many cases their homes were capable of repair. The establish- ment in June of a Community Relief Trust Fund provided the machinery through which an appeal for funds was launched, the original idea being that the fund should provide money for the relief of victims of all disasters. Almost $5 million was raised and, in accordance with the wishes of the public, all of it was used to assist victims of typhoon Wanda. A number of Govern- ment departments distributed grants to those with destroyed or severely damaged squatter boats, squatter huts, stock houses, farm buildings, fishing boats and working boats. In addition money was made available for burial grants, maintenance grants for children whose parents had died, injury grants, loss of earning grants and ex gratia payments to families which had suffered death or injury. Money was also given for the repair of privately built bunds and to help farmers over the loss of crops and livestock. More than 64,000 meals were distributed daily.
A total of 725 huts in urban squatter areas were completely destroyed, making 5,130 people homeless, while 3,038 huts were partly damaged, affecting 24,865 people. In Tsuen Wan district 136 huts were totally destroyed, making 1,055 people homeless, while 607 huts occupied by 3,264 people were damaged. Serious damage was also done to houseboats moored in various typhoon shelters and 2,231 people lost their homes.
In the harbour many ships dragged their anchors or parted their mooring cables and eight vessels stranded. Of 14 laid-up ships berthed for safety north of Lantau Island, eight went aground after dragging their anchors; in Tolo Harbour seven out of eight ships went aground. Several collisions occurred between ships at the height of the storm and, had these vessels been berthed in the main harbour or surrounding anchorages, considerable damage would have been caused not only to ships in commission but possibly also to shore property. The Hong Kong and Whampoa Docks tug Dorothy came into collision with an ocean-going vessel during the storm and sank with all hands. The same company suffered a further tragic loss when the tug Kowloondocks foundered