303893-1941-Minutes-No-7 — Page 3

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THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, MAY 23, 1941.

Order made by the Director of Supply under regulation 50 of the Defence Regulations, 1940, with the consent of the Governor, amending the First and Second Schedules to the order of 21st March, 1941, dated 2nd May, 1941.

Proclamation No. 4.-The Regulations of Hong Kong (1937 edition), Volume III, 1915-1931, laid before and approved by the Legislative Council on 24th April, 1941.

QUESTIONS.

4. The Honourable Mr. Lo MAN-KAM, pursuant to notice, asked the following

questions:--

1. Will Government make a full statement on the recent fire of the squatters'

huts at Tai Hang, and in particular:-

(1) What notice was given to the squatters before the huts were

destroyed?

(2) By whom, ou whose authority and under what powers the huts

were set on fire?

(3) Were only the huts destroyed or were personal belongings of

the squatters also destroyed?

(4) What arrangements have been made for the accommodation of

the squatters whose huts were destroyed?

The Director of Public Works replied as follows:-

(1) Verbal warnings were given on several occasions by a Land Bailiff of the Crown Lands Office that huts would be demolished if the owners did not do so themselves, and the 'elder of the squatters' was so informed. (2) The demolition was carried out by a Land Bailiff of the Public Works Department with the co-operation of a representative of the Medical Department. Both these officers hold warrants under regulation 37 (1) of the regulations made under Ordinance No. 5 of 1922 (Emergency Regulations) to take possession of, demolish and remove any structure erected without lawful authority on unleased Crown Land. No huts were set on fire. The huts were dismantled and the poles and timber collected and taken away by lorries to a Government dump at Wanchai : the matting and palm leaves were destroyed by fire to prevent re- erection. This practice has been in force for many years, otherwise sheds are re-erected as soon as the demolition party has left the area. (3) Only huts were destroyed and each inhabitant was given ample warning

to remove his or her personal belongings.

(4) Squatters had previously been offered accommodation and food at Pat Heung Camp by Honourable Director of Medical Services who states. however, that only 66 persons availed themselves of this offer. Persons who were sick and willing to go to hospital were removed there by ambulance. In other cases, where the occupants were sick but refused to go to hospital or were too old to evict, the hut was not demolished.

5. The Honourable Mr. Lo MAN-KAM, pursuant to notice, asked the following

question :---

2. Will the Government make any statement regarding the recent repre- sentations made by the former night-soil collectors now replaced by Government employees?

The Colonial Secretary replied as follows:-

As Honourable Members are aware this matter has been under discussion for some time. The resolution of the Urban Council in which the change of system was proposed was communicated to the Government