TNAG-0642-FCO40-790-Kowloon-Walled-City-and-aircraft-safety-in-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 13

CONFIDENTIAL

CR 2/744/77

PJ L Popplewell Esq British Embassy

PEKING

HKK 183/1

25 November, 1977

No Thompson

KOWLOON WALLED CITY

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When the Ambassador was down here recently, I mentioned to him that we had a potential problem about buildings in the Kowloon Walled City. I said I would write to the Embassy about it.

2.

As

The problem is a building which is leaning over so much that it is damaging the adjoining building and may at any moment fall on the heads of the passers by. you will know, we tread carefully in the Kowloon Walled City and do not normally apply the full rigour of our own building regulations. This is why the building was so badly constructed in the first place.

3.

We discussed this problem at a meeting of the Governor's Security Committee and decided that we would give the owners time to demolish the building voluntarily. If they failed to do so, then the Hong Kong Government would have to take action itself. In the latter case, I would have warned my NCNA contacts in advance/very low key manner. We have in the past used this tactic of warning the NCNA about action likely to be taken in the Kowloon Walled City in order to preempt any attempt by local residents to get support from the Chinese authorities against the "infringement" of their "rights" in the Walled City.

4.

In the event, persuasion seems to be working and the owners have agreed to undertake the demolition themselves. Consequently I hope this is the last I vill have to tell you about this particular problem. If, however, there are any signs of anything going wrong, I will let you know.

(D C wilson)

CC

WE Quantrill Esq (HKGD FCO) J T Masefield Esq (FED FCO)

CONFIDENTIAL

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