in the calendar year 1968 compared with 1966. This reduction was due to a very substantial decline in the number of 'persistent' cases, that is where a structure is re-erected after being demolished; the number of completely new structures demolished was actually very considerably more in 1968 than in 1966 as the following figures show:
1966 New
Persistent
***
...
...
...
1968 New
Persistent
4
+
***
•
...
5,664
10,598
7,692
6,914
12. The increase in the amount of new squatting may be due mainly to economic factors, while the decrease in the incidence of persistent squatting is probably due to the institution of licensed areas: many squatters who would otherwise re-erect their huts after they have been demolished accept the offer of a site in one of these areas. Much of the persistent squatting remaining relates to 'com- mercial' squatting where the structure is used for business purposes; this type of squatting was indeed the Squatter Control sub-division's most intractable problem during the year.
13. The squatter population in Hong Kong, Kowloon and Tsuen Wan continued to decline gradually, as the following table illustrates:
31st March
1965
...
...
1966
1967
"
1968
...
1969
•
Squatters
Resitees/Licensees
463,000
75,300
430,000
84,800
428,000
57,100
409,000
33,600
401,000
27,700
The old resite areas had virtually ceased to exist by the end of the year: just over a thousand people remained and these were in the process of being cleared. 19,614 persons were admitted to Class I and II licensed areas and by the end of the year these 21 areas held some 26,500 people: the population would have been considerably larger but for the early resettlement and closure of the licensed areas in Tsuen Wan set up for the squatters involved in the mass outbreak of squatting in October 1967. It is becoming increasingly difficult to find suitable sites for new Class II licensed areas to accommodate the sizeable annual influx into these areas; and rather than continue to form new sites the department recommended that the current occupants should be resettled when necessary and the area re-allocated to a new batch of licensees. This proposal forms one of the Housing Board's recommendations in its report for 1967-68.
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