clusion not only that the existing measures were not producing quick enough results, but that they would never solve the squatter problem because there was not enough land available to house the remaining squatters in one, or even two-storey buildings. The solution proposed was the construction of six or seven-storey buildings by Government, a possibility to which consideration had already been given by the Public Works Department. A second important recommendation was that a new department should be created which would be responsible for all matters connected with the clearance of squatters and their re- settlement, and the prevention of new squatting, responsibilities which had previously been divided between three separate Departments.
7. These recommendations were accepted by Government and the first Commissioner for Resettlement was appointed on 19th April, 1954. Later that month the staff of the Resettlement Division of the Urban Services Department was taken over and the squatter patrols were transferred from the Public Works Department. The screening teams from the Social Welfare Office joined about six weeks later. Additional administrative staff was appointed, and by early June 1954, an effective unified organization was in being.
8. The new Department's immediate task was to resettle the many thousands of Shek Kip Mei fire-victims living in huts on the streets, a task which was made much easier by the speed with which the Public Works Department erected two-storey temporary buildings (generally known as Bowring Bungalows) on the fire site. The first units of this emergency housing had already been completed by February 1954, and within a few months not only was accommodation for 36,000 persons provided in this manner, but sketch plans had been made for eight six-storey resettlement buildings which were also to be erected at Shek Kip Mei.
9. On 22nd July, 1954, there was another serious fire, this time at Tai Hang Tung north of the Boundary Street sports ground. Once more the streets were full of fire-victims and once more the fire site was immediately levelled for redevelopment. By now sketch plans and working drawings for the multi-storey buildings at Shek Kip Mei were ready, and it was therefore decided to construct as many buildings of this type as possible on the Tai Hang Tung fire site, which fortunately was an almost level valley floor.
10. When all the fire-victims had been rehoused in the multi-storey blocks at Tai Hang Tung it was found that there was still enough room left to resettle about 6,000 more people, and it was possible for
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