TNAG-0317-FCO40-353-Policy-of-housing-and-resettlement-in-Hong-Kong-problem-of-s-1971 — Page 147

31/3

Covering CONFIDENTIAL

Flagged A

Flagged

Mr Wilford

Sir L Monson

Mr Logan

HOUSING OF SQUATTERS IN HONG KONG

Aguero

A.R.

1. Mr Royle has already seen a copy of the Governor's letter to Sir L Monson of 7 January. Since then, there has been a further exchange of letters between Sir L Monson and the Governor.

2.

From the information available to us the position seems to be as follows:-

a. There are some 700,000 persons housed in temporary

structures or temporary shelters. Of these 500,000 are in the urban areas and 200,000 in the New Territories.

b. Of the 80,000 people living on boats, about 22,000

(17,000 in the urban areas and 5/6,000 in the New Territories) are thought to be "boat squatters" people living in derelict boats on or near the fore- shore or in typhoon shelters.

c. The Housing Board has recommended that over the next

6 years housing should be provided as follows:

Private Sector

360,000 persons

Housing Authority & Housing Society

120,000

10

Low Cost Housing & Resettlement

560,000

1,040,000 persons

d. The Board has also recommended that 30,000 squatters on Crown Land not required for development should be resettled over the next 6 years. A considerable proportion of the boat squatters living at Aldrich Bay, a particularly bad area at Shau Kei Wan, will be included in this 30,000.

e. The Housing Board has estimated that over the period

a total of 150,000 squatters will be resettled (130,000 in urban areas and 20,000 in the New Territories).

Covering CONFIDENTIAL

/(f)