chapters of this report. Squatters are not resettled simply because they need, or necessarily because they deserve, hygienic and fireproof homes; they are resettled because the community can no longer afford to carry the fire risk, health risk and threat to public order and public prestige which the squatter areas represent, and because the community needs the land of which they are in illegal occupation. And the land is needed quickly.
86. There are other grounds for criticism, and other argu- ments, which are less easily disposed of. These are the matters which the Urban Council and the Government have examined with particular care during the latter half of the year under review. The multi-storey resettlement estates represent emer- gency accommodation of a standard lower than that which the law purports to permit in the urban area; these arrangements could be made to conform with normal standards, but if this were done the capital cost would be increased in the ratio at least 43, more land would be needed, and the validity of the criticisms referred to earlier would be considerably increased. On the other hand it is already being said in some quarters that the Colony is building ready-made vertical slums.
87. Such criticisms are easily made, and indeed the less an observer knows of the Colony's situation and background the easier it is to criticize on these lines. But the problem with which the Hong Kong citizen-and especially the tax-payer-is faced is much more difficult than the mere facile formulation or summary rejection of criticism on these lines. The territory faces a problem which is probably unique in history and which moreover is changing and unpredictable. No-one knows the answer, for no-one can ever know the exact terms of the question. In the circumstances the Government has chosen a positive policy which can produce, as experience has shown, positive and rapid results in terms of the immediate problem, but which also preserves freedom of action for the future. This is the key. The community is at last recovering the land it needs and is also acquiring buildings which will bring in substantial revenue and which, far more important, can represent as time goes on anything from serviceable emergency shelter to workers' housing
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