TNAG-0220-FCO40-256-Constitutional-development-of-Hong-Kong-1970 — Page 26

NOTES FOR SUPPLEMENTARIES

POLITICAL SITUATION

with

General

Minor and sporadic incidents have occurred from time

to time, but these have been of a purely spontaneous nature.

Emergency Regulations

The Emergency Regulations which were introduced in 1967

at the time of disturbances have been discontinued.

Confrontation Prisoners

There are 91 prisoners still serving sentences in res-

pect of offences committed during the disturbances in 1967.

A number of prisoners convicted of offences during the

1967 disturbances have had their prison sentences reduced as

part of a routine procedure for the review of sentences of

prisoners serving long terms.

HOUSING AND RESETTLEMENT

Squatters

At the end of June, 1970, these were estimated to be

approximately 526,000 squatters, compared with nearly

540,000 a year ago. It is planned to house by 1975 a

further 590,000 people in Government resettlement and low-

cost housing estates.

On the face of it, little impact has been made on the

problem of the squatters, despite the large numbers of them

rehoused every year. This situation has been caused by

continued immigration over the years, by a high birth rate

and by movement out of overcrowded pre-war tenements into

modern accommodation.

/Rents