TNAG-0121-FCO40-157-Kowloon-walled-city-and-adjoining-areas-1970 — Page 38

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GIF. 323

CONFIDENTIAL

SCR 5/3371/60V

POLICY FOR EMERGENCIES IN THE

KOWLOON WALLED CITY

1.

Aim.

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this paper is to examine the methods by which Government could take advantage of a major emergency within the Walled City, such as a fire or a building collapse, in order to impose its authority over all or part of the area.

2.

A plan is outlined for the formation of a committee to coordinate and direct exploitation in the initial stages. Recommendations are made on the preliminary planning required to provide the necessary background against which decisions can be made. These are summarised at the end of the paper where the proposed terms of reference for the coordinating committee are also to be found.

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Principles Governing Action

Small scale incidents which could be exploited for a limited gain occur not infrequently but little good would come of nibbling away. An essential is, therefore, that a considerable area should be affected by the emergency so that we can get a worthwhile foothold.

4。

It is difficult to get into the City except on foot. An emergency confined to the centre would be hard to exploit because it would be difficult to deploy resources quickly and widely. Exploitation might therefore only be possible if the area affected were close to or on the periphery.

5.

A machinery is needed for assessing the situation and deciding whether it is ripe for exploitation, served by a speedy reporting system.

6. Colony.

Police communications are the most widespread and flexible in the

Furthermore, only the Police have constant and official access to the area. Initial reporting must therefore be a Police responsibility.

7.

Given an emergency, the first decision to be made would be whether to make much of it in publicity or to play it down. Relatively minor fires or building collapses, particularly if children were involved or a number of lives lost, could be skilfully exploited to build up public support for Government action within the City. Alternatively, such events might have to be played down firmly if it were considered to be inexpedient at the time to take action, or if they seemed to offer little scope for exploitation.

8.

If areas are opened up for exploitation, they must be kept clear. Initially this can only be done by the Police, but some support by the Squatter Control Division of Resettlement Department may be practicable. After the initial holding period, quick conversion into some acceptable public use such as a play ground or car park will be the best means of preventing undesirable redevelopment.

9.

At all times, possible C.P.G. reactions must be borne in mind, Local Communist reactions are unlikely to be of major significance without a lead from the mainland. The views of the F.C.O. and of our Mission in Peking would have to be taken into account.

10.

Possible Occasions for Action

Fire. There is now a number of concrete buildings particularly

CONFIDENTIAL

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