CONFIDENCEAL
10.
Apart from occasional collapses of dilapidated old two to five storey stone buildings, an ever-present hazard is fire. The Fire Services Department often finds it difficult to locate the exnet location of a fire in the City, because of its mazed layout, and to fight the fire because of the extremely narrow and confusing labyrinth in the area, Also, after a fire has rendered a building dangerous, the normal building closure procedure is not enforced by the Fuilding Ordinance Office, often leaving the City District Office to negotiate its evacuation and demolition with the occupants. The genuinely homeless victims are normally rehoused or offered licensed area sites by the Housing Department in most cases, in accordance with the degree of political pressure.
Water Supply
11.
Under the present Government policies, largely because of technical difficulties involved and the fact that the buildings do not comply with standards laid dow in the Water Forks Ordinance, there is no direct water supply to individual households. Apart from the six meters officially granted to voluntary agencies, all residents theoretically depend on 5 standpipes erected at the periphery of the City. In fact, according to a survey conducted in 1973, a majority of the residents are using Government water through illegal connections arranged by water syndicated for certain periods of the day at an average price of 120-150 per month. (It is estimated that at least 50,000 gallons of water is lost per day.) Others claim to use well water or carry water up the buildings in their buckets. In a general opinion survey conducted in early June 1976, it appears that proper individual water supply would be a most welcome move by the Government and the respondents have all indicated that they would only be too willing and prepared to pay reasonable amounts for the initial installation and a formal supply.
Drainage Problem
12.
The next problem is poor drainage system. This system, originally designed for a village with less than a thousand people, now caters for a population of 50,000 (i... including some 20,000 residents of the neighbouring Sai Sau Village squatter area) and is proving to be grossly inadequate. In addition to being
a very serious hygienic problem, the huge amount of sewage carried into the open drains running through Sai "au Village, which is a rather low lying area, tend to aggravate the flooding problem at times of heavy rains.
Flectricity Problem
13.
With a more open stance taken by the China Light and Power Company, electricity has recently been supplied to most of the residents who apply for it and whose buildings are structurally safe for supply purposes. However, due to the rapid and disorderly build-up of the City, which allows no space for laying underground mains and the enormous amount of illegal tapping, overhead wires can be seen dangling around the narrow lanes, thus constituting serious fire and environment I hazard
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