TNAG-0642-FCO40-790-Kowloon-Walled-City-and-aircraft-safety-in-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 70

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Assuming that the policy question is not inflexible,

a detailed survey of the technical problems involved

together with an order of costs, and an assessment of possible revenue, will be worthwhile.

Turning to the policy question, Government's decision

would probably have to depend upon the balance of the

following considerations, against the mounting demand

both within and outside the Walled City for a direct household supply:

(1) Provision of a household supply to the Walled City which now comprises illegal multi-storey buildings in the majority, may mean tacit Government recognition of their illegal status.

(2) Provision of a household supply would lead to

demands for other community services.

(3) The Walled City is on Crown land, and legalistically, it can be said to be an area occupied by illegal squatters. A household supply to the Walled City would therefore logically create a precedent whcih might encourage residents in other squatter areas to ask for similar treatment.

(4) Walled City residents are non-rate-paying;

provision of metered water supply would mean that they are getting services which are subsidised by rate-payers elsewhere.

(5) There is no absolute guarantee that Walled City

residents will pay for the household service once it is installed, and illegal tappings might still take place.

These considerations are important, but since the decision may have to pivot on "public relations", the following observations can be of some importance.:

(1) The provision of a household supply to illegal

multi-storey buildings might be construed in some quarters as tacit recognition of their illegal status. But the same criticism can at any moment now be levelled at Government for its policy of non-intervention. Since Government already stands accused, the positive step of providing a household supply is likely to bring public opinion on the side of Government, and indeed, it could become e bridge for Government to assert more authority over the

area.

CONFIDENTIAL # #

機密