Resettlement_Department_Annual_Report_1962-1963 — Page 11

MARINE DEPARTMENT LIBRAN

17. The following factors are taken into account in deciding the priority of a particular clearance.

(i) Purpose for which the land is required

18. Highest priority is given to land being cleared for resettlement estates as the whole resettlement programme would come to a halt if sufficient provision were not made for this purpose. Acceleration of the resettlement programme has greatly increased the demand for such land. 19. The need for other types of low-cost housing to alleviate the extremely overcrowded conditions in tenements has also had affected the demand for land.

20. Schools, hospitals and other public buildings are the next priority and a certain proportion has to be reserved for commercial purposes. The proceeds of sales of land for commercial purposes made a significant contribution to the Colony's revenue.

(ii) Target date for Clearance

21. 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

22. Constant liaison with the Architectural Office of the Public Works Department ensures awareness of the numbers, capacity and completion dates of resettlement blocks under construction or being planned. Clearances containing factories must also coincide with the erection of suitable resettlement factory accommodation. Sites con- veniently 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 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.

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