TNAG-0317-FCO40-353-Policy-of-housing-and-resettlement-in-Hong-Kong-problem-of-s-1971 — Page 16

CONFIDENTIAL

For discussion

on 16th November 1971

XCC(71)64 Copy No

.... of 31

MEMORANDUM FOR EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

RESETTLEMENT OF FORMER TENANTS OF BUILDINGS

DEMOLISHED AS DANGEROUS

The Director of Fublic Works has notified his intention of applying for Closure Orders under section 27 of the Buildings Ordinance in respect of two post-war domestic buildings at 10 Tong Shui Road and 2L Marble Road, Hong Kong. In order to give the occupants the longest possible notice the Director proposes to make a public announcement on 17th November to the effect that closure orders are to be applied for on 17th January 1972.

2

At present resettlement is offered to tenants of pre-war buildings which have to be demolished, under Resettlement Category 3 (Former domestic tenants of buildings demolished as dangerous and subject to the Demolished Buildings (Redevelopment of Sites) Ordinance). The question now arises whether tenants of post-war buildings should be eligible for resettlement in similar circumstances. It will be recalled that the tenants of Chong Hing Mansion, a post-war building, were offered resettle- ment.

3

Resettlement of the tenants of dangerous pre-war buildings was instituted as a result of a recommendation by the 1963 Working Party on Squatters, Resettlement and Government Low-Cost Housing. The terms of reference of this Committee specifically asked it to have regard to the effects of the Demolished Buildings (Redevelopment of Sites) Ordinance which had just been enacted, and it is clear that the Working Party considered the matter entirely in the context of pre-war buildings. At that time it was not expected that the question of post-war buildings would arise.

4

However, the tenants of a post-war building who are rendered homeless as a result of the building becoming dangerous may, in some re- spects, be worse off, in that they have not enjoyed the privilege of extremely low-controlled rents over a long period. It can be argued that the real cri- terion for entitlement to resettlement should be the sudden loss of accom- modation, and that this should apply equally to tenants in pre-war and post- war buildings, and that the policy should not distinguish between two groups of people made homeless, simply on the grounds of the age of the building.

5

Because of this and the urgent need to be able to make some positive statement with regard to what Government assistance will be made available to the tenants of the buildings referred to in paragraph 1, the advice of the Housing Board has been sought at short notice on the principle of whether resettlement should be offered to the tenants of post-war buildings made homeless in this way.

6

The matter was discussed at a meeting of the Board on 10th November and the Board has recommended, in order to deal with any case that should arise during the next six months, that resettlement accom-

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CONFIDENTIAL