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123. The powers to demolish all unlawful structures derive from the Emergency (Squatter Clearance) Regulations 1953 which define an unlawful or squatter structure as follows:
(a) any temporary or permanent structure or part thereof erected or maintained-
(i) without lawful authority on Crown land,
(ii) otherwise than in accordance with the terms of the lease or permit on land held on lease or permit from the Crown,
(iii) without the authority of the lessee or permittee on land
held on lease or permit from the Crown,
(iv) without the approval of the building authority in cases
where such approval is required, or
(v) by a squatter;
(b) any cave or tunnel occupied by a squatter or other person without lawful authority.
124. In practice the Squatter Patrols do not require the demolition of "old" squatter huts i.e. those erected before October, 1954, the date on which air photographs of all the patrol areas were taken. Those built before October, 1954 will be demolished in due course but not until the sites they occupy are required for permanent development.
125. In September, 1955 the Squatter Clearance Regulations were amended to enable the patrols to take early action against structures being erected on private agricultural land. Broad- cast talks were given by the Commissioner for Resettlement in English and by an unofficial Member of the Urban Council in Chinese to explain the purpose of the new Regulations.
126. The Squatter Control Section also has certain sub- sidiary duties, one of which is the removal of groups of "old" squatters to alternative temporary sites. Several such clearances have been carried out on Hong Kong Island where cottage resettlement areas are now all full and no sites for multi-storey estates are at present available. In all about 3,500 persons were moved in this manner during the year.
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