XN000022-1974-08-19 — Page 5

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MONDAY, AUGUST 19, 1974

GOVERNOR TOURS KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT

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LIVING CONDITIONS IN A SQUATTER AREA, MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES IN PRIVATE AND PUBLIC TENEMENT HOUSES, AND PROGRESS OF THE NEW RAILWAY TERMINUS IN HUNG HOM WERE SOME OF THE ASPECTS INCLUDED IN THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE'S TOUR OF KOWLOON CITY THIS AFTERNOON.

ACCOMPANIED BY THE CITY DISTRICT COMMISSIONER CKOWLOON), MR. ANTHONY NEOH, THE GOVERNOR FIRST VISITED THE SAI TAU VILLAGE, A

SIR MURRAY SHOWED KEEN LOU-LYING SQUATTER AREA IN THE DISTRICT. INTEREST IN THE PUMPING SYSTEM INSTALLED IN THE VILLAGE LAST YEAR TO COMBAT THE FLOODING PROBLEM.

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THE GOVERNOR TALKED WITH SOME WORKERS AND SHOPKEEPERS IN THE VILLAGE, AND ASKED ABOUT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE FLOOD-GATES PROVIDED BY THE CITY DISTRICT OFFICE.

THE RESIDENTS SAID THAT THE SITUATION HAD MUCH IMPROVED SINCE THE INSTALLATION OF THE PUMPS, AND THE FLOOD GATES VERE GENERALLY CAPABLE OF KEEPING OUT THE WATER DURING RAINSTORNS.

IT WAS FOUND, HOWEVER, THAT PUMPING ALONE WAS INSUFFICIENT TO HANDLE FLOODS DURING HEAVY RAINSTORMS, AND MORE CONCERTED EFFORTS HAD BEEN DIRECTED TOWARDS THE RESIDENTS TO KEEP DOMESTIC REFUSE IN LITTER BINS SO THAT DRAINS WERE NOT CHOKED.

THE GOVERNOR ALSO MET OFFICIALS OF THE SIX MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES IN THE VILLAGE, AND WAS BRIEFED ON SOME OF THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS, SUCH AS THE PROVISION OF STREET LIGHTING AND STANDARD LITTER BINS TO LOCAL HOUSEHOLDS.

THE NEXT POINT OF VISIT WAS A NUMBER OF EIGHT-STOREY BUILDINGS ALONG MOK CHONG STREET, WHERE SIR HURRAY AGAIN SAY THE WORK OF MUTUAL AIO COMMITTEES.

HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE MACS HAD IMPROVED LIVING CONDITIONS IN THE BLOCKS BY THE INSTALLATION OF IRON GRILLES AT STAIRCASES,

COMMON PARTS OF THE ALARM BELLS AND MUTUAL COMMUNICATION DEVICES. BUILDING WERE ALSO WHITEWASHED AND GENERAL REPAIR CARRIED OUT.

TALKING WITH MEMBERS OF THE MACS, SIR MURRAY WAS INFORMED THAT SINCE THE INSTALLATION OF THE ALARM SYSTEM, THERE HAD BEEN NO INCIDENCE OF ANY ROBBERY OR BURGLARY IN THE VARIOUS BLOCKS.

THE GOVERNOR SAID THAT THE ORIGINAL PURPOSE OF THE MACS WAS TO FOSTER SECURITY AND CLEANLINESS IN BUILDINGS, BUT HOPED THAT IT WOULD BE EXTENDED TO CATER FOR THE NEED FOR RECREATIONAL FACILITIES.

HE ALSO ENCOURAGED THE RESIDENTS TO GET BETTER ACQUAINTED, WITH ONE ANOTHER BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE A FORM OF GREAT SAFETY.

THE GOVERNOR