XN000022-1981-10-28 — Page 2

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1981

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STRONGER ACTION URGED AGAINST HUT RACKETEERS

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THE SENIOR UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, THE HON R.H. LOBO, THIS (WEDNESDAY) AFTERNOON URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO MAKE MORE POSITIVE EFFORTS TO ARREST AND PROSECUTE THOSE WHO BUILD SQUATTER HUTS FOR SALE INSTEAD OF RELYING SO MUCH ON THE CORRECTIVE MEASURE OF DEMOLISHING THEM.

HE TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THAT HE WAS NOT SUGGESTING THAT THE HELPLESS SQUATTER WHO IS GENUINELY BUILDING A HUT IN WHICH TO LIVE SHOULD BE PROSECUTED.

+BUT RATHER THAT WE SHOULD SEEK OUT AND PUNISH THOSE WHO BUILD AND SELL HUTS, THUS PROFITING FROM THE MISFORTUNES OF OTHERS AT THE EXPENSE OF THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE,+ HE SAID.

MR LOBO NOTED THAT SINCE 1976, 90 PER CENT OF NEW SQUATTING HAS BEEN CONCENTRATED IN EAST KOWLOON.

AND IT IS THE AVAILABILITY OF ACCOMMODATION IN THIS DESIRABLE LOCATION, RATHER THAN THE FORCE OF DEMAND FOR HOMES, WHICH IS THE MAIN CAUSE OF CURRENT NEW SQUATTING IN THIS AREA.

THIS IS BORNE OUT BY THE RELUCTANCE OF THOSE RENDERED HOMELESS BY FIRE OR FLOOD TO ACCEPT PERFECTLY GOOD ACCOMMODATION IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

MR LOBO SAID HE UNDERSTOOD 90 PER CENT OF THE NEW HUTS IN EAST KOWLOON ARE BEING BUILT BY RACKETEERS AND IT IS AGAINST THIS GROUP THAT THE GOVERNMENT'S EFFORTS SHOULD BE CONCENTRATED.

INDEED, HE SAID, ROOF-OVER IS THE GREATEST SINGLE CAUSE OF WORRY IN HONG KONG+.

+FOR MANY PEOPLE IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE A CASE OF JAM TOMORROW' AND FOR SOME IT LOOKS LIKE NO JAM AT ALL IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.

+IF WE ARE TO REGARD THAT AS A PROBLEM OF MANAGEABLE PROPORTIONS I THINK THAT WE MUST DO MORE TO MAKE CONDITIONS TOLERABLE FOR THOSE WHO WAIT, PARTICULARLY IN THE SQUATTER AREAS,+ MR LOBO SAID.

HE REITERATED HIS EARLIER PLEA IN THE COUNCIL ON THE NEED TO PROVIDE BASIC FACILITIES, SUCH AS WATER, ELECTRICITY, FOOTPATHS, LATRINES, ETC. FOR THE MORE PERMANENT SQUATTER AREAS AND ASKED WHAT PROGRESS IS BEING MADE IN THIS RESPECT.

HONG KONG, HE POINTED OUT, MUST NOW ACCEPT THAT SQUATTERS WILL BE A FEATURE OF OUR HOUSING SITUATION FOR MANY YEARS TO COME.

THIS IS BECAUSE OUR OWN HOUSING PROGRAMMES DO NOT PROVIDE FOR THEIR ELIMINATION IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE AND THEY WILL CERTAINLY NOT GO AWAY BY THEMSELVES.

/+THAT BEING