ENG-1952 — Page 130

HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT, 1952

Its work consists of control of the domestic rodent and insect pests, and the maintenance of public health through the prevention of various animal-borne diseases. It also gives advice and assistance, and provides training for pest control duties in the Services and in private undertakings.

Squatters

Government's resettlement policy was announced in January, 1952, and is concerned with the gradual elimination of the unhealthy squatter colonies in the urban area of Hong Kong which, by the end of 1951, contained over 300,000 persons, and with resettling the occupants in twenty resettlement areas in the Urban District. The responsibility for carrying out the re- settlement policy is vested in the Urban Council.

Within the twenty resettlement areas are seven in which some resettlement had taken place over the previous three or four years. Of the 20 areas, 14 are now in use and by the end of December, 1952, the total resettled population was 34,550 persons living in 4,520 wooden huts and 2,200 houses or bungalows of various approved designs. There are also 130 shops, and conveniences in the form of water supply, roads, and latrines have been provided. Electricity is avail- able in several areas.

Provision has been made for the resettlement of industrial workshops formerly located in squatter areas and by December, 26 factories were operating or under construction. The majority of them are two- storey weaving and rattan establishments employing settlers living in the vicinity. Within all areas scope is offered for the development of cottage or home in- dustries, and there are now 282 houses used as pre- mises for hand-loom weaving, embroidery, basket-

94