HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
As regards (a), these squatter areas are included in Patrolling Area 6 which is bordered by Wun Sha Street, Tung Lo Wan Road, Tin Hau Temple Road to the junction with Fortress Hill Road, Sir Cecil's Ride, Mount Butler Cable & Wireless Station and the Tai Hang Stream. There are thought to be about 15,000 squatters. The Patrolling Area is divided into six lettered zones and under his standing orders the officer in charge is responsible for inspecting each zone once a week. This means that the whole area is covered every week.
As regards (b) these Squatter Areas are included in the Bay View Division of the Police. The extent of patrolling by the Police and their methods of apprehending criminals are in no way the responsibility of the Resettlement Department and, in any case, vary in accordance with the amount of crime reported.
As regards (c), I must first point out that the staff of the Resettlement Department have no powers of arrest under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance. Their responsibilities are normally no more than those of a good citizen and are limited to reporting any chance discoveries to their superiors for the information of the Police. Between April and June this year, two suspected divans were reported to the Police but both were new wooden structures, which in any event would have been actioned. During the same period the Police requested the Department to demolish six other structures which had likewise never been tolerated. For the full six months from the beginning of the year, the overall total of demolitions was 29.
As regards (d), I am advised by the Police that the desired statistics are as follows:
In April there were 130 raids and 44 persons were brought to Court. In May 106 and 24 and June 92 and 34, an overall total of 328 raids and 102 persons brought to Court.
As regards (e), I have already pointed out that the terrain cannot be developed except with the greatest of difficulty which means that the area is not scheduled for clearance in the foreseeable future.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- May I ask a supplementary question, Mr. Chairman, by way of seeking information? Have the Police requested the Resettlement Department to demolish any squatter huts in which opium divans are found?
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT: ----I have already pointed out in my reply, Mr. CHEONG-LEEN, that such requests have been made and demolition has been carried out.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- I think reference was made to new structures. What about old structures?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:- I understand that that has been the case, Mr. CHEONG-LEEN, but I cannot give you the figures at this moment, as you did not ask for them.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: That means old structures?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:- Yes, old structures.
MOTIONS.
DR. R. H. S. LEE, on behalf of Mr. B. A. BERNACCHI, moved the following motion:
THAT the following be adopted as the Policy of this Council for Clearance and Resettlement:
No demolitions of illegal structures should be undertaken by the Squatter Patrols where the occupiers can establish that the premises have been erected and used as domestic premises for more than 12 months and that the above Policy shall apply also to non-domestic premises converted to domestic use.
He said Mr. Chairman, I want to make clear that it is Mr. BERNACCHI's Motion that I am moving to-day. Due to his illness it was postponed at the last meeting, and it is at his request that I now rise to propose it.
Due to the great influx of refugees and the noticeable increase in our squatter population, it is surprising that no steps until now have been taken to amend the 1954 Resettlement Policy which governs the administration of the Resettlement Department. To our certain knowledge, Sir, there are many hardship cases which the policy renders ineligible for resettlement. Under the Resettlement Ordinance wide powers are given to this Council to deal with the problems of resettlement. It is also Government's announced intention to work on a scheme of resettling the squatters at the rate of some 100,000 persons a year. We all know that it is taking shape at a rapid pace, and if we continue at this rate, it is only a matter of time that every squatter will eventually be resettled, provided that no unforeseen circumstance intervenes to dislocate it. In view of the devious ways in which some of the squatters have acquired possession of their huts, and the acute
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