XN000022-1995-01-25 — Page 59

49 .

Clearance of squatter areas

Following is a question by the Hon Fred Li Wah-ming and a written reply by the Secretary for Housing, Mr Dominic S W Wong, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

It was mentioned in the 1994 Policy Address that all urban squatters on government land would be rehoused by March 1996. However, there are some squatter areas such as Lei. Yue Mun Village and Cha Kwo Ling Village which are situated on both government and private lands. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(a) whether the Government has any plan to resume such squatter areas for public purposes; if so, whether there is a specific timetable to clear such squatter areas and how the squatters will be rehoused;

(b)

(c)

(d)

whether, in regard to those squatter areas where there is no plan to resume private land for public purposes, the Government will clear the squatter huts on government land only and rehouse those squatters who are affected by the clearance;

if the answer to (b) is in the affirmative, how the Government will deal with the squatters on private land in the same squatter area who will not be cleared and rehoused; and

if the answer to (b) is in the negative, whether the Government has other policies to deal with such squatter areas, and how it will fulfil its pledge to rehouse all urban squatters on government land by 1996?

Answer

Mr President,

(a)

There are 22 squatter areas in the territory situated on mixed government and private land. The clearance of these areas will not proceed until the private lots have been resumed for public purposes. There is no timetable for such clearance at present.