Resettlement_Department_Annual_Report_1971-1972 — Page 14

Tong and in May 1970 an arca at Tai Wo Ping, officially known as Class III Licensed Areas, to accommodate such undertakings. By the end of the year, 236,207 square feet of space had been allocated to 227 operators. The annual fee is $1.80 a square foot.

SQUATTER FIRES AND NATURAL DISASTERS

25. During the year, 4 tenement and 11 squatter fires in Hong Kong and Kowloon were recorded rendering 284 families, or 1,527 persons homeless. Of these fire victims, 1,301 were offered resettlement, 192 persons were resited into Class I and II Licensed Areas and 34 persons rebuilt their huts on original site.

26. 10 squatter huts in Tsuen Wan and 18 resite huts in licensed areas in Hong Kong and Kowloon were totally or severely damaged by Typhoon 'Freda' on 17th June, 1971 rendering 107 persons of 22 families homeless. 29 persons of 6 families were offered direct resettle- ment and the remaining 16 families rebuilt their huts on original site.

27. 422 huts housing 397 families of 1,998 persons in squatter areas in Hong Kong, Kowloon. Kwun Tong and Tsuen Wan, and 2,704 resite huts housing 3,101 families of 17,655 persons in licensed areas in Hong Kong, Kowloon, Kwun Tong and Tsuen Wan were destroyed or damaged by Typhoon 'Rose' on 16th August, 1971. Those whose huts had been destroyed or damaged beyond repair were offered reset- tlement. Those whose huts had been not too seriously damaged and could be repaired were given cash assistance from the Community Relief Trust Fund to repair their huts. 842 families of 4,910 persons from squatter and licensed areas were offered accommodation in reset- tlement estates.

THE LIAISON UNIT

28. The Liaison Unit of the Squatter Control Sub-division was established on 1st December, 1968. Its purpose is to develop a closer relationship between the Government and squatters, through liaison with squatter representatives, and to administer a local public works programme. 23 local public works projects were completed during the year and 4 other projects were in progress at the end of the year. The projects approved were mainly foot-paths and protective wire fences.

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