2600224
C.S. 84
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9
XCR(70)303
It will be noted that the Housing Authority's view cancels out the Urban Council's view about the use of compulsion and in any case resettlement space cannot be denied to any eligible squatter regardless of income if clearances are to be effected successfully (this is one of the most important purposes, if not the prime purpose, of resettlement policy). The Board's recommendation is therefore commended for Council's approval.
F.
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Changes in Resettlement priority categories
The Housing Authority made the same comment on this re- commendation as it did on the previous recommendation at E above (para- graphs 28-30). Since the Board's proposals merely endorse those of the Urban Council and also have the support of the Housing Authority, it is suggested that these should be approved on the same understanding as the previous recommendation, namely that it does not give eligible squatters opting for Government Low-cost Housing priority over persons already in the Combined Waiting List.
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In this connection, it is necessary to mention a further change in the priority list that has been put into force during the past year. This concerns the direct resettlement of squatters who have been the victims of squatter fires. During last winter there were some comparatively serious squatter fires at Tai Hang Tung and elsewhere. In order to avoid the risk of adverse publicity, and consequential exploitation by critics of Government, the Commissioner for Resettlement was authorised to offer direct resettle- ment in a number of cases where resettlement accommodation was available. It is proposed in future that the Urban Council should add to the quota which it fixes annually for compassionate cases an allowance for squatter fire victims provided that, in any one fire, the number of victims does not ex- ceed 1,200 persons. If there were in any one case a large number of victims requiring resettlement, the implications would be given special consideration. It is hoped that these arrangements will commend themselves to Honourable Members although, when direct resettlement was granted earlier this year, the urgency of taking a decision prevented a formal submission being made to Council at that time.
G.
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(a)
The same standard and finish should be used for future Resettle- ment and Government Low-cost Housing
(b)
(c)
The essential differences in current designs consist of:
wooden shutters are installed in Resettlement estates instead of glass louvres.
Resettlement rooms are not limewashed.
The current Resettlement grid is 11 feet as opposed to 14 feet 6 inches for Government Low-cost Housing.
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