XN000022-1995-03-08 — Page 79

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Squatter areas in HK

Following is a question by the Hon Frederick Fung Kin-kee and a written reply by the Secretary for Housing, Mr Dominic Wong, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

In his 1994 Policy Address, the Governor stated that all urban squatters on Government land would be rehoused by March 1996. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council of

(a) the names of all existing squatter areas in the territory together with the respective squatter population, their distribution on Government and private land, the estimated dates of clearance as well as the expected rehousing sites; and

Answer

(b)

Mr President,

the squatter areas where the Housing Department has carried out improvement works under the Squatter Area Improvement (SAI) Scheme; whether any follow-up action on such improvement works has been taken; and which squatter areas have not undergone improvement works under the SAI Scheme?

:

There are about 31,200 urban squatters, of whom about 9,000 are living on Government land and the remainder on private lots. A list of urban squatter areas is at Annex 1. The Administration has pledged to clear all urban squatters on Government land before 31 March 1996. There is no plan to clear other squatters. To avoid possible abuse, it is the Housing Department's practice not to announce the location and specific timing of squatter area clearances prior to the conduct of pre-clearance

surveys.

The Squatter Area Improvement Scheme covers a period of seven years between 1983 and 1990. A list of those squatter areas affected is at Annex 2. Since the completion of the programme, the Housing Department has continued to provide maintenance services for the public facilities in those areas.

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