156
Compensation
for the
evicted.
Approach to problem.
12.
13.
digging their toes in and confronting the civil officers concerned with all the obviously good argu- ments in their favour: our failure to use Kam Tin aerodrome after taking all that land; the decline in the fortunes of the Chengs of Shing Mun after their forced removal to Kam Tin; the undoubted fact, doubly telling to-day, that money is no compensation to unsophisticated countrymen for their land; the fact, that, after enduring 3 years of Japanese occupation, the first result or British re-occupation, so far as they're concerned, is this ... The old "Fung Shui" argument is added to taste.
They have behind them some Red propaganda, which is however, not acceptable to all of them. So far there is no trace of other propaganda. Counter-propa- ganda is of course published from time to time, and a special leaflet, to be widely circulated on the spot, is under consideration.
The evicted are to be given new houses on sites to be chosen by themselves. An effort is being made to induce them to choose sites in the vicinity of the new aerodrome, so that they and their descendants may always have an opportunity to find work on and around the aerodrome supplementary to their normal farming. As for the latter, they are to choose new land from Crown Land now available, which will have to be prepared for them with machinery available for aerodrome con- struction. Wells will be sunk, and manure provided, with the addition of a generous layer of top-soil from the old land. The houses will have electricity. If the people concerned consent to stay in their present area a school and a dispensary will be provided primarily for their use. From time to time the wheels will have to be greased with monetary grants for special purposes.
All Services concerned are viewing this undertaking from the widest possible angle, taking it for granted that not merely a military aerodrome but a larger joint civil aerodrome is to be provided for. There is no danger therefore of villages being resited on land which might ten years nence be required for civil air purposes.
JB/TC.
(Sd.) J. BARROW.
D.O., N.T.
27th November, 1945.