squatter fires is that this would disrupt the resettlement pro- gramme for the clearance of sites required for permanent development which is planned for many months ahead. The inconvenience which fire victims in huts on the streets cause to permanent residents in the district is fully appreciated but this has to be weighed against the adverse effect on the welfare and prosperity of large sections of the Colony's population which would result if the clearance of sites for new projects to provide housing, schooling, or employment had to be deferred.
99. The screening of squatter fire victims for permanent resettlement is made difficult by the fact that there are always a number of impostors who register with the Social Welfare Office immediately after a squatter fire in order to obtain the emergency relief given to squatter fire victims. Screening therefore becomes a lengthy process involving much questioning and checking of statements in order to establish whether the person claiming to be a victim of a particular fire was in fact resident in the fire area at the time.
100. 9,302 fire victims were resettled during the year, by the end of which there were still about 7,000 remaining in huts on the streets who will be resettled during the course of the next twelve months.
CHAPTER IX
THE CONTROL OF SQUATTERS
101. The Urban Services Department is responsible for improving the sanitary conditions in squatter areas while the Resettlement Department has certain other functions which are carried out by the Squatter Control and Rooftop Squatter Prevention Sections.
102. The responsibility for preventing the erection of new squatter huts on vacant land is undertaken by the Squatter Control Section, the staff of which is authorized to take the necessary action under the provisions of the Emergency (Squat- ter Clearance) Regulations, 1953 which define an unlawful or squatter structure as follows:-
(a) any temporary or permanent structure or part thereof
erected or maintained-
(i) without lawful authority on Crown land,
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