TNAG-0807-FCO40-1012-Policy-for-housing-and-resettlement-in-Hong-Kong-1978 — Page 42

C.S. 166

CONFIDENTIAL # #

機密

For discussion

on 29th June 1976

ANNEX A TO XCCI(78)5

XCC(76) 44

Copy No...... of 70

MEMORANDUM FOR EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

REVIEW OF POLICY FOR CONTROLLING SQUATTING

This paper seeks the formal abandonment of the policies

for squatter control set out in the 1964 White Paper on 'Review of Policies for Squatter Control, Resettlement and Government Low-Cost Housing'. There were then an estimated 580, 000 persons squatting illegally on Crown land. The strategy adopted then was:

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(a)

(b)

following on a survey of all existing huts in 1964 (which then became "tolerated" huts), to demolish all new illegal structures, on Crown land or leased land;

to accept an open-ended commitment (the require- ment was estimated at 60,000 persons a year) to provide Licensed Area accommodation for all persons rendered homeless in this way. The Areas were to be provided with minimum facilities so as to discourage families from quitting their existing accommodation.

Over the years this strategy has gradually been eroded. In particular, the relaxation of controls during and following the 1967 disturbances led to mass squatting which was never subsequently removed nor formally regularised; this provided a nucleus for fresh squatting which was difficult to deal with. Other factors were the large numbers of immigrants during the period 1964 to 1974, low household incomes over the past two years' recession combined with high rents and often overcrowded conditions in private housing, and overcrowding in older public housing estates. In fact, only about 10,000 persons from demolished illegal structures have been provided with Licensed Area space each year.

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Since 1964, about 250, 000 squatters have been cleared and moved into public housing, while 120, 000 have moved into Licensed Areas. Even so, there are still a large number of squatters; a very rough estimate is that there are close to 370,000 in the urban areas and Tsuen Wan. This year it is expected that a further 45, 000 squatters will be cleared to make way for development, two-thirds of whom (being pre-1964, tolerated squatters) will be allocated public housing and the rest Licensed Area space. This reflects the fact that about

CONFIDENTIAL

機密