Resettlement_Department_Annual_Report_1962-1963 — Page 8

CHAPTER II

SQUATTER CONTROL

(a) Prevention of New Illegal Structures

3. It is the duty of the Squatter Control Division to prevent new unlawful structures from being built, existing tolerated ones from being enlarged, and non-domestic portions being converted for domestic use. The work is performed by 'Area Officers' each of whom is responsible for an allotted area which he patrols at least once a week. The Officers are so familiar with their areas that they can easily recognize any new structure even though it is built of old materials and camouflaged.

4. The Division derives its authority from the Resettlement Ordin- ance, No. 16 of 1958, under which the term 'unlawful structure' is widely defined to include any unauthorized erections on Crown Land, or on land held on lease or permit from the Crown, and also any cave or tunnel which is occupied without authority. In October, 1954, an aerial survey was made of all the squatter areas in Hong Kong and Kowloon and the structures on Crown Land so recorded were there- after deemed to be 'tolerated'. Structures on tenement and factory roof- tops in the urban area were not controlled until November, 1956, when a hut-to-hut survey was carried out; action is taken against any type of rooftop structures not listed in that survey.

5. When a new structure or extension is detected, the owner is normally persuaded to demolish it voluntarily; if however he ignores this advice, demolition action is undertaken by the Department. Con- fiscated materials are used to assist squatters and victims of natural disasters in rebuilding their huts in controlled temporary resite areas not immediately required for development. (See also paras. 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 below). During the year the total number of new structures and extensions demolished by the Squatter Control staff amounted to 9,848; 936 of these being rooftop structures; 191,539 pounds of wood and 38,105 pounds of tin sheeting were confiscated.

6. The survey of ground squatter structures in most parts of the Urban Area in November, 1959, produced a detailed record of the measurement, type of construction and usage of every structure. This serves as an additional reference for verifying cases when extensions and conversions are suspected. A detailed re-survey of the squatter population was conducted this year and the result revealed that in the

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