TNAG-0445-FCO40-510-Discussions-with-Sir-Murray-MacLehose--Governor-of-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 176

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of Kowloon

tive as any that applies to any other district in the Colony. I will not detain the House further by re-stating the de- tails of enormity which my noble friend and the noble Earl, I think very faith- fully and exactly, have placed before the Housc.

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Walled City

[11 JUNE 1974] better, especially after the successful visit of my right honourable friend. Has not the time arrived to open unofficial nego- tiations between London and Peking to discuss the terrible situation that exists within the Walled City of Kowloon and | to find a way whereby the Hong Kong Government can administer the district properly? China's sovereignty rights could be protected by the so called " sovereignty umbrella" and remain unaffected or un- restricted by any agreement arrived at, or by the negotiations themselves.

My Lords. I do not expect any answer on this point when the noble Lord, Lord Goronwy-Roberts, comes to reply to the Unstarred Question. But I sincerely hope that he will seriously look at the sug- gestion, and perhaps put it to his right honourable friend for further considera- tion. I think the whole House will agree that the poverty and suffering that exists in the Walled City is a heavy price to pay for a question of sovereignty.

10,20 p.m.

My

LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS: Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Kennet, has raised a question of acute concern for all of us, and in so doing he has spoken factually and responsibly, having regard for the difficulties as well as the urgencies of this matter. The noble Earl. Lord Cowley, who followed him, in his admir- able analysis of the physical problem and the political dilemma, also deserves our thanks for having treated this extremely difficult and sensitive problem in the way that he did. I am inclined to say that I agree with every word that has been said in this very valuable debate. It is only on one or two points of factual detail that I find myself in difference with my noble friend and the noble Earl. As to the purpose of the two speeches, I am in entire agreement with what has been said, and with the motivation.

My Lords, we must all apply ourselves to securing real progress in ameliorating these dreadful conditions in this enclave

which, after all, formally, constitutionally and in fact is a responsibility of this country. Of course it would be wrong. as my noble friend Lord Kennet took care to point out, to see this as a lawless en- clave outside the control of the Hong Kong Government. It is lawless in the sense that he used the term, but it is an area relatively crime-free and subject to effective police patrol, at least as effec-

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I go on to the point that concerns us most; namely, what is being done about this alllicted enclave in this Colony, and what can be done. What is being done, as has been pointed out, is quite con- siderable--very considerable throughout the Colony as a whole, and fairly con- siderable against the most intricate difli- cultics within the enclave of the Walled City. I refer to it as the enclave, which I find a precise term, because this is in actual fact neither a city, nor walled. First of all. on the question of water supply, which I was very glad to hear my noble friend bring forward with such emphasis, there are plans, far advanced now. to put the water supply of the enclave on a more regular basis. This is connected with proper drainage, and the horrifying details to which we have listened emphasise the importance of a proper system of drainage. Pumphouses are being installed and the open ditches have, since last year at least, been cleared twice daily. This is not much by Euro- pean standards, but it is a great deal by Asian and Kowloon standards; and plans are now being considered to repair the main drainage.

On the subject of sanitation, the Urban Services Department has a large team of sweepers who operate in the city. There are several huge refuse bins, standpipes for street cleaning are now installed, and the Urban Services Department carry out investigation of infectious diseases. My noble friend mentioned this inspection as being pretty efficient. They also have a service for pest control, the daily chlorination of wells and the main- tenance of public latrines. This is very basic. Compared with the conditions in hopeful and, within its limits, effective the Walled City that preceded this very

series of reforms under the present Governor, it gives cause for cautious optimism.

My noble friend and the noble Earl mentioned the question of fire hazard, deriving in particular from the extra- ordinary mesh of electrical installation which hang like a web through this

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