areas. The most serious one occurred at Chi Kwu Wan in Tsuen Wan District on 9th January, 1971 and affected more than 995 persons. 1,129 fire victims were resettled during the year.
26. The Liaison Unit of the Squatter Control Sub-Division was established on 1st December, 1968. Its aim is to develop a closer relationship between the Government and squatters, through liaison with squatter representatives, and to administer a local public works programme. 18 local public works projects were completed during the year and 5 other projects were in progress at the end of the year. The projects approved were mainly the construction of footpaths or erection of protective wire fences.
CHAPTER 4
CLEARANCE OF SQUATTERS
27. The Clearance Sub-Division of the Operation Division is headed by an Administrative Officer and is responsible for planning and execut- ing the squatter clearance programme.
PLANNING
28. Most unleased Crown Land in the urban area on which it is possible to build is occupied, mainly by residential squatters but also by small factories, workshops, shops, illegal cultivation, pigbreeders and so on. When an area of this sort is required for development the Resettlement Department is responsible for clearing it of all structures and cultivation and resettling all eligible persons.
29. When a clearance application is received (either from the Director of Lands and Survey in the urban area or from the District Officer in the New Territories) a discreet check is made of the situation in the area to be cleared. From this check the size of the clearance problem is determined and its priority and timing fixed. In making this decision the following points are important:
(i) The purpose for which the land is required
The highest priority is land required for resettlement estates or other low-cost housing schemes, partly on social grounds and partly because other forms of land development would be
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