TNAG-0121-FCO40-157-Kowloon-walled-city-and-adjoining-areas-1970 — Page 50

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CONFIDENTIAL

(and presumably

outside

3.

There is only one feature in the proposals which gives

us serious concern, the possibility of action against the

communist schools inside the Walled City. The paper puts

the problem in the following terms:-

"The Education Department neither registers nor inspects

regularly schools located within the Walled City, but is

prepared to act in any case where a blatant disregard for

the safety of school children is brought to light.

Schools in the Walled City are unregistrable since it is

impossible for their sponsors to obtain the certificate

from the Director of Fire Services as required by the

Education Ordinance. Sufficient primary school places

exist in the immediate vicinity of Kowloon Walled City for

children living within and without the Walled City. It is

felt that there is room for an exception to be made to the

general policy because of the fire risk to schools and that

a statement by the Director of Fire Services that he is not

in a position to provide reasonable protection would be a

useful weapon and should be put to the Schools Steering

Committee in the context of proposals for closing schools.

It should be remembered however that many of the schools

are left wing run, and there would be opposition to closure.

The specific recommendation is

"The only exception to the status quo in respect of the

Walled City itself should be in respect of fire risk in

the Walled City in the context of a campaign against

/unregistered

#f

CONFIDENTIAL

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