WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 1981 ·
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STUDY ON HOW TO IMPROVE SQUATTER CONDITIONS
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A PILOT STUDY IS NOW BEING CONDUCTED IN A SELECTED SQUATTER AREA TO SEE HOW DIFFICULT IT WILL BE TO UNDERTAKE A COMPREHENSIVE IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMME, THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, THE HON DENIS BRAY TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
HE SAID THIS WOULD INCLUDE THE PROVISION OF IMPROVED FACILITIES SUCH AS METERED WATER SUPPLY, CLEANSING AND DRAINAGE, IMPROVED PATHS AND PUBLIC LIGHTING.
MR BRAY WAS REPLYING TO REMARKS AT PREVIOUS SESSIONS FROM THE HON R.H. LOBO AND THE HON F.K. HU.
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE LATEST ESTIMATE OF SQUATTER POPULATION IS THREE QUARTERS OF A MILLION PEOPLE.
+RATHER MORE THAN HALF OF THEM OR ABOUT 400 000 - 450 000 ARE LIVING IN SQUATTER AREAS WHICH ARE EXPECTED TO HAVE A LIFE OF AT LEAST THREE YEARS, BUT PROBABLY FIVE OR EVEN TEN MORE YEARS,+ HE SAID.
MR BRAY NOTED THAT IT WAS NOT PART OF HOUSING POLICY TO DEPRIVE OCCUPANTS OF SQUATTER HUTS OF PROPER PUBLIC HOUSING, BUT ADDED THAT THE REQUIREMENTS FOR PUBLIC HOUSING ARE SO ENORMOUS THAT THEY CANNOT BE SATISFIED FOR SOME YEARS.+
HE SAID THE FACT THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE LIVED IN SQUATTER AREAS FOR A LONG TIME PROBABLY ARISES FROM THEIR OWN PERSONAL CHOICE OR PERHAPS IGNORANCE.
*ANY FAMILY WHICH SATISFIES THE INCOME CRITERIA FOR PUBLIC HOUSING SHOULD NOT BY NOW HAVE BEEN LIVING IN A SQUATTER AREA FOR MORE THAN SEVEN YEARS.
+HAD THEY APPLIED FOR PUBLIC HOUSING BEFORE 1974 THEY WOULD BY NOW HAVE BEEN OFFERED PUBLIC HOUSING. YET MANY SQUATTERS HAVE LIVED IN THESE AREAS FOR A LONG TIME AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO.+
+IF WE ACKNOWLEGDE THAT PEOPLE WILL LIVE IN THESE PLACES FOR YEARS WE MUST MAKE SOME ALLOWANCES,+ HE SAID.
HE SAID DISTRICT AND CITY DISTRICT OFFICERS WOULD ALSO CONTINUE TO INSTITUTE IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMMES IN VARIOUS SQUATTER AREAS ON A DISTRICT SCALE UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES.
*WHEN WE HAVE COMPLETED PROPOSALS FOR RENOVATION OF THESE SQUATTER AREAS WE SHALL PROBABLY NEED THE HELP OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY TO IMPLEMENT THEM,+ HE ADDED.
REFERRING TO THE REMARK ON UNEVEN PROVISION OF RECREATIONAL FACILTIEIS, MR BRAY DISAGREED THAT ALL GOOD THINGS ARE CONCENTRATED
IN CENTRAL AREAS.+
+CHAI WAN IS FOR INSTANCE MUCH BETTER ENDOWED THAN SHAU KEI WAN,+ MR BRAY SAID.
IT IS