21. The need for other types of low cost housing to alleviate the extremely over-crowded condition in which so many people live in tenements has also had repercussions on the demand for land.
22. Schools, hospitals and other public buildings are the next priority and a certain proportion has to be reserved for commercial purposes. The proceeds of such sales make a significant contribution to the Colony's revenue.
(ii) Target date for Clearance
23. Private land must be resumed, permit areas cancelled and all compensation paid before the land is cleared. It is therefore necessary to see that sufficient funds have been approved and that development can be started as soon as possible after clearance and demolition of the structures to avoid letting the land lie idle.
(iii) Availability of Accommodation
24. Constant liaison with the Architectural Office of the Public Works Department ensures awareness of the numbers, capacity and completion dates of blocks under construction or being planned. Clearances containing factories must also coincide with the erection of suitable resettlement factory accommodation. Sites conveniently close to the Urban Area are either too small or are already earmarked for more suitable development. It is therefore necessary to look further afield for areas which preferably should contain as few squatters as possible so that a high net gain in accommodation can be achieved. To ease the economic burden on the people removed and the subsequent traffic load on the Colony's already crowded roads people are moved as short a distance as possible. Where people have to be moved further away, it is necessary to ensure that sufficient land is cleared for industrial purposes in order to ensure a livelihood for the new settlers in the vicinity. In one or two instances, it has proved practicable to resite the squatters into temporary huts in controlled resite areas for a year or two while a neighbouring resettlement estate is being built.
(iv) Cultivation
25. When this is involved, it is necessary to determine how long it will take to produce a large scale survey plan, identify crops and pay compensation to established cultivators. In addition to this compensa- tion, a larger scale farmer or pig-breeder is eligible for a shop site in the estate so that he may have an alternative form of livelihood.
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