TNAG-0121-FCO40-157-Kowloon-walled-city-and-adjoining-areas-1970 — Page 5

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G.F. 323

CONFIDENTIAL

Temp. SCR 31/69

KOWLOON WALLED CITY AND THE ADJOINING AREAS

(This paper seeks to review Government's policy towards the

Walled City and to set out proposals to determine future Government action inside and outside the Walled City).

ileli

Introduction.

Fresh consideration has been given to Government policy towards the Kowloon Walled City, and in the light of that policy to :-

(a)

clearance in areas outside the Walled City; and

(b) departmental action inside the Walled City.

General Policy Towards the Walled City.

2.

The long-term aim has always been the clearance and redevelopment of the Walled City itself. But with the need to bear in mind the susceptibility of the Peking Government to any moves by the Hong Kong Government in the actual Walled City area or the so-called "sensitive zone", the problem has been approached with caution at all times and the programme of action drawn up on the instructions of Executive Council in 1960 has never been fully implemented in the face of hostile reaction from Peking.

3°

The review of policy recently undertaken, while confirming that the ultimate goal of Government should remain the complete clearance and redevelopment of the Walled City itself, indicates that for the present the political status quo should not be disturbed. On the other hand, action should not be delayed to implement improvements to the area outside the Walled City and the "sensitive zone", whilst at the same time maintaining the current level of departmental activity inside the City.

Proposed Clearance.

4.

(a)

Clearance of the Walled City.

As stated above, the clearance and redevelopment of the Walled City itself should be the ultimate aim. However, of more immediate concern is the clearance and redevelopment of the adjoining areas over which there is no international legal or political dispute. Until this has been done any publicity directed towards creating a public demand for clearance, or attempting to coerce the C.P.G. into agreeing to clearance, would be unwise.

For

/ the

CONFIDENTIAL