TNAG-0642-FCO40-790-Kowloon-Walled-City-and-aircraft-safety-in-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 48

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CONFIDENTIAL # # 機密

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The Kowloon Walled City Kaifong Welfare Promotion Committee

27.

28.

The Kowloon Walled City Kaifong Welfare Promotion Committee is situated in its own precises at 46 Lo Yan Street, 4/F, Kowloon Walled City. This Committee which was rather active

and popular a few years ago has now lost much of its enthusiasm

and support. It has now only a membership of about 100 to 150 persons who either live or work in the Walled City (19). Its

influence over Walled City residents is very restricted. This

is partly because of the indifferent attitude of most of the

Walled City residents towards involvement in politics and partly because of the fact that the Committee has achieved very little in recent years and in fact does not have any programme of action. The existence of the committee is known to almost everybody

living inside the Walled City, but very few people have direct

contact with it. It is generally regarded as a political body run by, and restricted to, a handful of leftists.

Previously, the Committee collected one dollar per month from

shopkeepers inside the Walled City. Since it was only a very small amount most shopkeepers paid without question.

But many shopkeepers have now stopped paying even this one-dollar

contribution because the Committee has so far achieved nothing

material for the benefit of the local residents.

The Role of the Committee

29.

One substantial function the Committee still plays is to act

as witness in real property transactions in the Walled City.

The Committee charges several hundred dollars for this service.

In fact, this is the main source of income for the Committee.

Since the Committee acted as the witness, it was common practic for parties concerned to approach the Committee for the settlement

of disputes that arose afterwards. However, as decisions of th Committee do not have any binding power on parties concerned and

more sifnificantly, as the Committee is rather inefficient in

playing this part, people now tend to approach the City District Office instead for nediction in disputes. Consequently, evca

this role as 'witness' is dwindling in significance.

CONFIDENTIAL

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