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HOUSING AND LAND
Some 10,100 people were cleared from dangerous buildings, buildings affected by urban renewal, temporary housing areas and structures affected by natural disasters. Of these, 3,200 were allocated permanent housing and the balance temporary housing. A shortage of temporary housing in the urban areas resulted in an increasing number of people having to be offered rehousing in the New Territories. Understandably, the need to do this met with some opposition.
Early in August, a group of boat squatters from the Yau Ma Tei Typhoon Shelter petitioned the Housing Department for immediate rehousing, claiming that Typhoon Hope had put their houseboats in imminent danger of sinking. They demanded that all people occupying houseboats in the typhoon shelter be rehoused ashore immediately. The petitioners were told that, because of a shortage of both transit centre and temporary housing accommodation in the urban areas, all families of boats certified by the Marine Department as being in imminent danger or sunk would be immediately offered accom- modation in modern temporary housing at Tai Po, Fanling and Tuen Mun. Although many people were quick to accept the offer, others naturally did not relish the thought of moving out to the New Territories. Five days later, about 70 boat squatters, apparently encouraged by some students and social workers, broke into premises in the Chatham Road Transit Centre and staged a sit-in in support of demands to be rehoused in the urban area. The protest was settled amicably after four days when the boat squatters accepted the rehousing offer, and repaired the small amount of damage done to the premises.
Three serious squatter area fires in Kowloon during the driest October on record resulted in 2,500 people taking up temporary housing in the New Territories. The first fire, which broke out in a densely-populated squatter area at Lei Yue Mun on October 3, left 2,500 people homeless. Four days later, a further 4,100 people lost their homes when a fire razed the Ma Chai Hang squatter area at the base of Lion Rock. The third fire made 700 people homeless on October 20 when a fire swept unchecked through squatter huts at Sau Mau Ping. The Ma Chai Hang fire evoked a five-day sit-in outside Housing Department headquarters by victims demanding rehousing near their jobs. The protest ended when the Housing Department arranged to provide for the victims resettle- ment in a new temporary housing area to be built at Sha Tin over the next 10 to 12 months, on a piece of land found specially for the purpose. They agreed to move into temporary housing at Tai Po or Fanling pending completion of the new Sha Tin temporary housing area.
Town Planning
The overall objective of town planning in Hong Kong is to ensure that the limited land resources are utilised in the best possible way to meet competing needs. Sufficient land has to be provided for public and private housing, commerce and industry, recreational and community uses, while the quality of the living and working environment for the population is maintained and improved.
Statutory plans are prepared under the provisions of the Town Planning Ordinance. The Town Planning Board is responsible for the preparation and revision of draft statutory plans for existing and potential urban areas. During the year, the board published for public inspection 12 draft statutory plans including amendments to the draft outline zoning plans for the Peak area and Tsim Sha Tsui. A new plan was published for Kowloon Tong. Following consideration of public objections and the holding of hearings for objectors, the board amended some of the draft plans and exhibited them for further public inspection.