TNAG-0642-FCO40-790-Kowloon-Walled-City-and-aircraft-safety-in-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 106

G.F. 323

CONFIDENTIAL

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Tactical Considerations

27.

28.

Government must bear in mind the following considerations:-

(a) How to allay the anxiety created among all Walled City

residents by Government's announcement of action against

the first building. The questions that would spring

readily to the residents' mind when action against

Building E had been announced would be:-

(i) What other buildings are similarly affected, in

particular, will my building be affected?

(ii) When will they be demolished?

•

(iii) How are we going to be compensated?

(b) Whether the phased programme of action is likely to

proceed at all depends very much on whether the

affected residents in Building E are ready to accept

the compensation and rehousing arrangements as it is

likely that Building E would become a psychological

'bulwark' for all the affected residents.

It is

The tactical options open to Government will therefore

very much depend on the reaction of the residents of the Walled City in general, and the residents of Building E in particuler. likely that there will be considerable pressure both among Walled City residents and the press, for Government to declare its intentions as to other buildings falling in the same category. It may be that Government could hold the tide of anxiety by stating that it would consider acting against all buildings exceeding the height limit as and when they are discovered. But action against Building E will inevitably be construed as the beginning of a determined course of action against over-height buildings and pressure will be put upon Government to name those buildings which it intends to act against. Accordingly, although it would be ideal

/to keep...

CONFIDENTIAL **