No_4_November_and_December__1952 — Page 10

by-laws governing the details of building, sanitation, and so forth. Since buildings in the resettlement areas are exempt from the provisions of the Buildings Ordinance it will be necessary to fill the gap by special rules in making which the Council will no doubt be generally guided by the Director of Public Works who is a member of the Council; similarly any factories and work- shops which may be permitted in the areas will not be subject to the Factories and Workshops Ordinance but to special rules made after consultation with the Commissioner of Labour. In addition to the general penalties of eviction and demolition, power is given to impose specific penalties for breaches of rules. A set of general conditions is contained in a Schedule and the Council is also empowered to im- pose special conditions. One general condition specifically prohi- bits private transfer or subletting; another forbids the use of any pre- mises in the areas for the sale or use of dangerous drugs, etc. and it is the intention to use this condition to enforce immediate eviction of any body who keeps an opium divan or a brothel in any resettlement area.

RS

To

The regulations, in short, give all the powers thought necessary to establish the elements of administra- tion in the resettlement areas. ensure that these wide powers are used with moderation and com- monsense they have been given to the Urban Council, a body, which has an unofficial majority and has established a record of quiet effici- ency in matters which affect the everyday life of every citizen. The Council will probably establish a Select Committee to which, in the usual way, a large part of its func- tions can be delegated.

It must now be made clear that Government is not going to set up vast relief camps, nor to provide free homes in beautiful scenery for everyone who was once a squatter. Although much sympathy is felt for the squatters, every one is a law- breaker, and there are no rewards for law-breaking. It was estimated that preparation of the areas will cost over two million dollars, and their administration, a further mil- lion and a half annually. Some of that cost must be recovered by charging for the sites (the fee will include water) and these must be paid in advance. The resettled

squatter will have to build his own hut or hire somebody to build it for him. Life in the settlement will at first be pretty tough. Government will police them, remove refuse and nightsoil and do its best to keep down flies and mosquitoes-and pariah dogs. There will be water, but it will be strictly rationed-in some places 2 gallons a head daily. It is hoped, but cannot yet be pro- mised, to establish schools and clinics in the biggest, isolated areas. this will all take time and money. The minor amenities that make so much difference to life will have to be provided by the settlers them- selves.

But

A great deal has been done during the course of the past year towards the solution of the squatter problem. The pilot Housing Scheme at Sheung Li Uk and the first stage of the construction of the staff quarters for the Hong Kong Electric em- ployees at North Point described in this issue are important factors to- wards alleviation of intolerable conditions and in subsequent num- bers we shall attempt to report the progress made on the wider aspects of the problem.

WARNING! It is bad practice to paint over rust!

Treatment with Foscote is sim-

plicity in itself. Just brush

Or wipe on and leave on.

FOSCOTE R.S.

Sole Agents GORDON, WOODROFFE & CO. (FAR EAST) LTD.

316, EDINBURGH HOUSE, 3rd floor, Tel: 31224

- 6

Foscote dissolves and converts rust into a harmless iron phos- phate, which in itself provides a base for subsequent painting, and requires no further priming coat.

IT'S A

Sissons

PRODUCT

GRANT

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