TNAG-1447-FCO40-1931-Executive-Council-of-Hong-Kong-memoranda-and-minutes-of-meet-1986 — Page 223

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(a)

(b)

(c)

(a)

(e)

(F)

(g)

sufficient basic amenities (water and electricity) should be provided in squatter areas to reduce the risks of criminal exploitation of the situation. The programme of providing legal water supplies should be speeded up with the assistance of the WSD while the supply of electricity should be improved with the assistance of the District Boards (DBS) and the power companies;

the Housing Department's Squatter Area Improvement Division should be the Government's principal agent for implementing the improvement programme, supplemented by efforts initiated by DBS and the CNTA;

priority should be given to squatter areas on the basis of need and of the number of people who would benefit from the improvements;

squatter areas which would be cleared in three years or with less than 500 inhabitants should be excluded from the programme. But the CNTA and the DBS

· could always consider initiating minor improvements in these areas;

the HD should also consider the problem in New Territories squatter areas (in addition to Tsuen Wan and Shatin) in consultation with the CNTA;

liaison between the Police, HD and CNTA was now maintained at the district level on an 'ad hoc' basis. The Police, HD and District Office should form a sub-committee of the District Management Committee which would concentrate on this problem and co-ordinate action to be taken to combat triad interference with water and electricity supply facilities; and

it would be a great help if there was a larger police presence in squatter

areas.

Responses indicate that the departments involved are in general agreement with these recommendations.