CONFIDEN
7.
Over the last three years, as a result of the "ight Violent Crime Campaign, more stringent law enforcement through incessant raids of drug dens and arrests of syndicate leaders organizing vice operations, drug dens and gambling activities have been forced to keep a low profile. Some of the ring leaders have allegedly emigrated to Holland and the prices for heroin, in particular, have allegedly doubled. Rumours are that most of the drug dens, drug retailers and bookies for off-course horse and grey-hound betting have now receded to the background and are operated on a floatation basis. The Police record is that for April/May 1976, only 33 cases of robbery, burglary and assault/rape were reported and over 90% of the organized' crimes have been stamped out of the Walled City and spread to Hung Hom, Yaumati and Mong Kok.
High-rise Buildings
8.
It is estimated that over 70% of the total surface area of the Walled City are covered by multi-storey (10-14-storey) buildings, i.e. buildings above four storeys. The boom in constructing such buildings started in 1971, largely as a result of the aggravating housing problem throughout the territory, the high price for purchasing and renting flats and failure on the part of Government to intervene when the first buildings were erected. Unlike buildings outside the City, the construction plans are not scrutinized by the Building Ordinance Office and hence doubts were cast on the structural soundness of these buildings. According to some building experts, however, although there is no piling work, most of the buildings should be quite safe for at least ten years or so. Most of the new flats are advertised in the Chinese newspapers and, with prices pitched at a 50 to 70% of the normal market value, they attract a lot of outside residents who normally have to pay $20,000 to 40,000 for flats varying from 200 sq.ft. to 450 sq.ft. in size. Though there is no lift service(which is provided only in one recently completed building), all these buildings have, through legal and illegal means, their individual water and electricity supplies.
5.
It is allegedly that there are at least two main Chiu Chow groups (some members with triad background) actively involved in this highly lucrative business; and the tendency has been to build more and higher buildings, often paying little regard to structural safety and fire hazards. Consequently, in 1975, it was discovered that certain buildings had exceeded height limita laid down in the Airport (Control of Obstructions) Ordinance; and it was through rather strenuous persuasion efforts by the City District Office that developera of three unoccupied buildings were forced to reduce their heights in accordance with the prescribed limits. Joint efforts are being made by the Fuilding Ordinance Office, Crown land and Survey Office, the Police and the City District ^ffice to see to it that new buildings will not exceed the prescribed height, and so far, this arrangement has worked out satisfactorily.
CONFIDENTIAL,
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