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SUPPLEMENT NO. 1 TO THE SOCIAL WELFARE OFFICER'S REPORT FOR THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1951.
FIRE AT TUNG TAU VILLAGE
21st NOVEMBER, 1951.
General.
1.
At 7 p.m. on 21st November, 1951, a fire broke out in Tung Tau Village, an area just east of Kowloon City. In spite of the efforts of the Fire Brigade it burned for 4 hours and was extinguished only after some 15 acres had been razed to the ground. The buildings destroyed, which are believed to have housed at least 10,000 persons, included small factories and many stone houses as well as wooden squatter huts, and had only this in common, that almost every one was illegal. In spite of the complete destruction of everything in the area that would burn only two deaths were recorded, neither being due to burns.
2.
On the following day emergency relief measures for those rendered homeless were concerted between the Social Welfare Office and the Kowloon City Kaifong Welfare Association. The first free meal was served to 5,000 people at 11.30 a.m., the food being supplied and cooked by the Government and distributed by the Kaifong Association.. At the same time the Kaifong Association made a public appeal for contributions in cash or kind, the response being immediate and generous.
3.
As is usual after a fire in a squatter area those rendered homeless displayed great resource in making shift for themselves and only a very small percentage took advantage of the temporary shelter which was made available for the first few nights in nearby schools, temples, churches, etc. There were nevertheless some seventy or eighty who, unable to find immediate shelter with relatives or friends, had no alternative but to remain on the scene of the fire; and for those a matshed was erected by the Social Welfare Officer on 24th November. The period of immediate relief work may be said to have lasted from the date of the fire until 2nd December, 1951, when it was possible to bring to a close the issue of free meals on the scene of the fire. During that period 74,000 meals were served and the Kowloon City Kaifong Welfare Association distributed 320,000 pieces of clothing. At the same time generous cash contributions continued to arrive and the total sum in hand was approaching $200,000. Throughout this period voluntary workers of the Kaifong Association continued, under the capable direction of their Chairman, Mr. Lam Tz-fung, to give their services for the tiring and exacting task of distributing meals and clothing. Great credit is due to these volunteers and whilst it is difficult to single out individuals for special mention this report would be incomplete if it did not record the strenuous and sustained efforts of Messrs. Wan Tat-ming, Chan Cho-chak and Yu Pak-kau. The premises of the Lock Sin Tong - Free School were made available as headquarters and stores for these relief operations and the headmaster, Mr. Kwu Chiu-man, played a most valuable part in all that was done.
Resettlement.
4.
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Meanwhile some progress had been made with the longer- term problems of resettlement. On 23rd November, 1951, in order that the area of the fire might be kept clear of new illegal structures, the Governor-in-Council scheduled that area under the Emergency
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