of buildings demolished for redevelopment are normally compensated under the Landlord and Tenant Ordinance and are not assisted in this way. 7,364 rooftop squatters and 853 tenants were resited during the year.
12. Resiting is occasionally used to clear land for development, if no resettlement accommodation is immediately available for urgent clearances. In these cases the Squatter Control Division allocates sites to the squatters and supervises the rebuilding work. 899 structures and 5,360 persons were moved in this way during this year.
CHAPTER III
SQUATTER CLEARANCE
13. The Operations Division is responsible for planning and carry- ing out the squatter clearance programme.
(a) Planning
14. Virtually all Crown Land in the Urban Area that is not impossibly steep is occupied to a greater or lesser extent by residential squatters or illegal cultivators. Priority of clearance is determined by the urgency with which a particular piece of land is needed. This system of clearance for development also helps the department in that squatters can understand why they are being cleared, which is an important factor in winning their co-operation.
15. When an area is required for development the Public Works Department applies for clearance, indicating what the land is wanted for and the target date for clearance. Delays may arise from the need to cancel temporary occupation permits and to follow resumption procedure, but thereafter the Resettlement Department is responsible for clearing the area of all structures and cultivation, and resettling all eligible persons, shops and factories found there.
16. When an application is received, the Squatter Control Division finds out from its detailed records how many domestic huts, shops and factories, etc. there are on the ground and estimates how much cultiva- tion and how many people are involved for the information of the Operations Division. From this information, the size of the clearance problem is determined and its priority fixed in relation to previous applications.
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