TNAG-0317-FCO40-353-Policy-of-housing-and-resettlement-in-Hong-Kong-problem-of-s-1971 — Page 90

Mr Laird

Sir L Monson

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HONG KONG

Sir H Norman-Walker's letter refers.

Arising from a speech in the House of Lords made (in January 1971, I believe) about Hong Kong, Lord Garner received a lengthy but unsigned letter from the Worker- Student Political Action Committee, Hong Kong. It was copied to Baroness Summerskill and the Press (Times, Observer and Guardian) and, to summarise as briefly as possible, contained the following points.

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3. In referring to the "enormous shortcomings of accommodation provided by Government" it describes "excessive overcrowding" whereby adults have about ths and children about th of the "minimum habitable area" per person considered acceptable by the World Health Organisation. overcrowding has resulted in a high incidence of violence, a painful lack of privacy, inadequate recreational facilities, poor educational standards (because high noise level precluded concentrated study) and bribery and corruption to obtain larger properties (because legitimate methods produced no results). The letter was highly critical of the actual accommodation (lavatories, kitchens etc) provided; the fact that housing shortages were not as much the fault of refugees as claimed by the authorities (refugees had been "more of a benefit to the Colony than a detriment"); the use of English for the law, teaching and text books; the large expenditure on defence as compared with social welfare "when Hong Kong cannot be defended" and, finally, the "basic injustice" of foreigners representing only 11% of the population having "total control over the lives and destinies of the majority".

4. Lord Garner answered this letter mainly by saying -

"No doubt all Governments could do more than they do - and, in speaking of Hong Kong in the debate, I specifically said that possibly there could be more development and also that there was scope for some changes. But as I have experienced in visits round the world, very many Governments do very much less than the Hong Kong Government.

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