No_5_1955 — Page 63

MULTI-STOREY RESETTLEMENT

RESETTLEMENT BUILDINGS

Photograph at Li Cheng Uk illustrating typical multi-storey building.

The population

+

of

Although the squatter situation in Hong state, is unique in Colonial administration. still remained unmodified. Kong seriously affects every resident, rich

was After reading this report, one can fully

probably well over two million by and poor, European and Chinese, particu-

the end of the year, and the squatter larly from the economic point of view, it appreciate the immensity of the task that is doubtful whether more than a few hun- Hong Kong with its limited area and its population was estimated at the end

limited resources has, with astonishingly the year to be in the region of 300,000 as dred people outside of those in Govern- little help from outside, set itself to per- compared with 30,000 two years pre- ment departments, and social welfare

tightly packed organizations directly concerned with the form, and to be thankful for the calibre viously. Amongst the

of its administrators who did not allow wooden huts were many illegal factories matter have any idea of what is, and has the size and complexity of the undertak and workshops storing and using highly been, going on, or have bothered to ac- quaint themselves with the thousand and ing to deter them. Truly can we para- inflammable materials, one social, financial, political and adminis- Phrase Churchill and say "Never was so

much done for so many by so few." trative problems which have had to be tackled as a result of this unprecedented situation.

over us.

The following is an attempt to sum marize some of the information contained in the Report and to elaborate on the features of building design and construc- tion not fully covered therein.

es-

for the big fires.

The stage was set

The population is believed to have reached a peak, estimated at 2.36 million. in April, 1950. Immigration controls were put into force in May, 1950. and the population is estimated to have dropped to a little over two million by the end of the year.

two million.

The tremendous burden of controlling and directing, during the early stages, the hundreds of thousands of destitute, near- destitute and opportunistic squatters had Historical Background been borne by the very few and, in spite

During 1951 the population is believed During the Japanese occupation (Decem- of errors of judgment, restrictions due to division of authority and lack of facilities, ber, 1941 to August, 1945) the population to have remained stable at slightly over By the middle of the year have made such a good job of it, that the is believed to have dropped from 1.6 mil-

it was becoming clear that the squatter lion to 600,000. The revival of prosperity majority had been blissfully unaware of

which followed the end of the war, coupled problem would have to be tackled in its the potential threat to the health, econo-

entirety, i.e. that it would not after with the political upheavals and uncer- mic welfare and even to the stability, of

all be significantly diminished by the the Colony which for so many years hung tainty in post-war China, had by the end

voluntary return to China of large num- of 1948 raised the population to an

bers of refugees and a new policy was timated 1.8 million. Squatter colonies

established in July. 1951. Under this Thanks to the courageous and efficient were again in evidence and measures were policy which was formulated, and put into effect to move the squatters into policy there were to be a number of small areas for "approved" type resettlement is now being implemented, that phase of designated areas where they might put up the situation is now past, and this ele- in an orderly arrangement huts of stand structures and two or three large “toler- ated" areas. Accommodation in the "ap- ment of our population is rapidly being ard design.

proved" areas would be semi-permanent absorbed into the social and economic

bungalows and these 1949 completely

for were reserved fabric of the Colony.

whelmed such measures as were then in persons with some claim to be residents The history of the development and the force to deal with the housing and squat and with the means to conform with the solution of

the squatter problem, its ter problems. Communist forces reached structural standards laid down. scope and potentials, is fully set out in the line of the Yangtze during the sum of the squatters would go to the "toler- the 1954-55 Annual Department Reports mer, the Chinese Communist regime was ated" areas where there was to be little of the Commissioner for Resettlement formally established in Peking on 1st control of the type of structure erected. which has recently been published. Every October, and later in the same month the Both types of areas were to be planned- person in Hong Kong with any sense of Communist armies took Canton and ar- i.e. laid out in planned sites with allow- The ance for roads, fire-breaks etc. Both in- personal and civic responsibility should rived on the Hong Kong frontier. read this clear and revealing account of a traditional policy of allowing free entry cluded communal water supply and com- situation

which, we would venture to and asylum to all persons of Chinese race munal latrines.

The events of

over-

The rest

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