XN000022-1982-02-04 — Page 7

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1982

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BETTER CONDITIONS FOR WONG TAI SIN SQUATTERS

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ACTIVE STEPS ARE BEING TAKEN TO PROVIDE SHORT-TERM IMPROVEMENTS TO THE LIVING CONDITIONS OF THE ESTIMATED 60 000 SQUATTERS IN WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT, THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MR STEPHEN SELBY, STATED TODAY (THURSDAY).

HE SAID THE IMPROVEMENTS INCLUDED THE PROVISION OF WATER SUPPLY, LEGAL ELECTRICITY, BETTER SANITATION AND CLEANSING, SAFER FOOTPATHS, STREET-LIGHTING, AND IMPROVED POSTAL SERVICES.

+ALL THESE ARE BEING PREPARED BY THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT BOARD AT PRESENT, HE SAID.

MR SELBY WHO WAS SPEAKING AT THE LUNCHEON MEETING OF ROTARY CLUB OF HONG KONG NORTH, SAID THE GOVERNMENT RECOGNISED THAT SOMETHING HAD TO BE DONE TO IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENT IN THE SQUATTER AREAS WHERE IT WAS CLEAR THAT THE HOUSING PROGRAMME COULD NOT PROVIDE HOMES FOR THEM IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

+ THE GOVERNOR HAS CLEARLY STATED THAT THERE IS NO SOLUTION TO THE SQUATTER PROBLEM EXCEPT TO CLEAR SQUATTERS AND PROVIDE ADEQUATE HOUSING FOR THEM HOWEVER, HE RECOGNISES THE REALITY OF LIFE IS THAT SO MANY PEOPLE CANNOT BE REHOUSED OVERNIGHT, AND SO SOME INTERIM MEASURES MUST BE TAKEN, HE SAID.

MR SELBY POINTED OUT THAT IN IMPROVING THE ENVIRONMENT FOR THE SQUATTERS MUCH DEPENDED ON THE SETTING UP OF LOCAL ORGANISATIONS AMONG SQUATTERS, SUCH AS MAC'S (MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES) AND FIRE-WATCH TEAMS.

+APART FROM TAKING ACTIVE STEPS TO IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENT FOR SQUATTERS, GOVERNMENT WILL HAVE TO PERSUADE THEM THAT THEY CAN DO AS MUCH AGAIN FOR THEMSELVES BY CO-OPERATING WITH EACH OTHER AND UNITING WITH GOVERNMENT TO TACKLE COMMON PROBLEMS, + MR SELBY ADDED.

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