TNAG-0911-FCO40-1121-Policy-on-housing-and-resettlement-in-Hong-Kong-1979 — Page 17

From The Minister of State

The Rt Hon The Lord Goronwy-Roberts

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

London SW1A 2AH

3 April 1979

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BOAT DWELLERS IN HONG KONG

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During the debate in the House of Lords on 7 March about the Hong Kong boat-dwellers you asked me whether I thought it might be possible for the boatmen to get together and build their own housing on a cooperative basis if the Government of Hong Kong were to provide suitable sites and building materials.

I subsequently arranged for your suggestion to be brought to the attention of the Hong Kong Government, whose comments have now been received. Unfortunately, the problem is not just a shortage of housing There is also an acute shortage of land on which to build. It is essential that such new land as can be made available - which nowadays means by levelling hills and filling in the sea - is developed as intensively as possible in order to provide accommodation for the maximum number of people from the long waiting list. You will realise that in these circumstances it would be impossible to provide suitable sites for the type of self help project you envisage. The Hong Kong Government were nevertheless grateful for your interest in the territory's housing problems.

The Lord Hylton House of Lords London SW1

Yours

Ameively,

Fromon - Roberts.