TNAG-0317-FCO40-353-Policy-of-housing-and-resettlement-in-Hong-Kong-problem-of-s-1971 — Page 177

(b)

The Board have recommended a departure from previous policy by including for the first time squatters on Crown Land not required for development. They recommend that 30,000 such squatters should be resettled in the next six years. (It is not clear to me whether this 30,000 is included or not within the 1,000,000 persons referred to in sub-para. (a) above). The Governor estimates that there are some 370,000 squatters in such land in the urban areas. A recent survey among squatters has shown that many are not so much concerned with the quality of housing but with an increase of amenities in their area and this has prompted the Governor to think of an alternative or supplementary policy for areas not required for development involving the provision of better amenities and of assistance to build or improve houses in such

areas.

5. I would be grateful if further examination of the Governor's letter could be given priority in your Department. I ought also to send him an acknowledgment of it and would be grateful if when papers come forward you could let me have a draft for this purpose. I have delayed sending a simple acknowledgment of receipt in case there are any questions of an interim nature which you would like me to put to him when I reply.

Ливычна

13 January 1971

(L. Monson)

c.c.

Mr. Wilford

(without encl.)

Miss Deas

(without encl)