Pago 5
THE CHINA MAIL, TUESDAY, JULY 4, 1961.
"Who wants justice" the young man seems to
be saying as he runs past ona of Rennies Mill's protest signs.
Unconcern in this little girl's face tells its own story-"You protest.
I'm off to the beach,"
RENNIES MILL
PHOTO O NEWS Æ
Photographs by Frank Fischbeck
Where 10,000 found refuge: By Andrew A self-
Sloan
TEN years or SO ogo, when the Communist purge in China was at its height, a weary band defeated Nationalist militia marched south to seek refuge in Hong- kong.
of
At first there was no place for them, but slowly they were ab- sorbed into the already- swelling squatter po. pulation.
The hills of Tai Hang above Causeway Bay soon rang to their industry as they raised rough shacks and made their new homes in flongkong.
But the time had not long
passed when their Nationa-
listic forvour rose in their
contained town
We do not agree this Refugee-Camp becoming a Resettlement Estate
breasts and Government felt and refugee aid groups
To the refugees it seemed
it prudent to move them to moved in to help those they their term of free-living
a new area to prevent any could. possible disturbance.
Run practically without However, at that early any help from Government, stage in the Colony's deve- there was little or no serious lopment of refugee re-settle crime. ment, homes for some 10,000 were not easy to provide.
Financial aid for develop.
Formosu.
But a site was found. Out ment came from the Taiwan pust Lyemun Gap in Junk Government in Bay, a small inlet provided But the distribution of this the answer. It was situated aid left a lot to be desired, below a disused flour mill Apparently not all of it went from which the area took its in the direction it was in- name Ronales Mill.
Gratefully, and en masse, they moved into the aren and lived rent-free.
*
*
Among the refugee 'army' were military all-sorts from generals to privates. Soon they organised the layout of their new home. The area divided into districts and a self-governing council was set up.
Was
tended.
Although the council members remain silent, it was learned that a sub. stantial amount of money was granted for a build- ing of 1 fresh-water catchment dam, Evon- tually, វា puny-looking brick wall was erected around 2 mountain streamlet.
The 'dum' held back pos sibly a thousand gallons of The years rolled by and water-leaking out at about the encampment grew. the same rate as it was run- Schools, up to the middle- ning in. school level, were organised Then came 1961,
was at an end.
Government announced its intention to transform the area into a cottage-type re- settlement village. under Government supervision.
Thus the residents would be subject to rent and law,
Aftor ten years of free- dom from all bonds they would be controlled again and this the refugees just did not like. And they their own quiet manner. showed their disapproval in
wended their way through the area, and speeches
"We must oat” this old woman reflects as she prepares dinner for tho family. The patches on her temples are a`Chineso headɑcho cure.
Shops and schools closed down. The Nationalist flag pouce came again to Rennies to make way for develop But many of the older people, and the crippled and appeared on almost every Mill. They now await re- ment. house. Protest rallies gistration by Government... Then again, almost all of widowed, are not going to them have settled in as be able to find the necessary A general feeling of un- refugees and lived off charity money for rents.
To quote one resident of were made. A deputation certainty was the main cause for over ten years and are fa believed to have pro- of the outbursts. Many are used to their way of life. the aren, a European, “There tested to Government. not sure
of exactly what And after ten years, it is not is no doubt at all that the Protest posters, in English Government intended to do, easy to make anyone change change to a re-settlement and Chinese, appeared on and how far their pro- their habits in a few days. area is long overdue, and it
gramme will
Without doubt, the cost of is a step in the right unsettle, But after due considera- instead of re-settle then, living is going to be raised, direction." tion, the self-government They are scared of being council regained control, and turned out of their houses
the walls.
One of the okdor residancos af Ronnios Mill. a tired old man rosting within. He's been resting for the past 10 years, rant-fres. There are few other houses like this one,
Now a habitat of the local dova population as wall as
The monument of remembrance reised shortly after the first Nationalist veterens arrived at Rennies.
J Mil.
The main street, Nationalist flags hùng la Emp profést as two youngsters wander home.