Earlier on, the unauthorised extensions in squatter structures and illegal occupation of government land in Tung Ah Pui Village, Shek O, have raised public concern. The Lands Department (LandsD) has immediately taken control actions, reviewed the existing guidelines on squatter control actions and made recommendations for improvement. Upon investigation, the LandsD has also confirmed that there was no selective enforcement by the Squatter Control Office staff because of the background of the parties involved. The incident has once again drawn public attention to the squatter structures in Hong Kong which have been in existence for years. Let me take this opportunity to explain our squatter control policy and the latest enhanced control measures.
As we all know, there was an influx of immigrants and refugees into Hong Kong before and after World War II. Due to the lack of public housing and large housing development projects at that time, quite a number of people chose to build squatter huts in rural areas, on the hillside, or on government or private land at the fringe of urban areas. The scene of squatter huts scattering all over the hillside would not be unfamiliar to the older generation. Subsequently, the squatter problem was gradually mitigated as the Government implemented public housing schemes and various new town development projects. In 1982 and 1984, the Government conducted a Squatter Control Survey (SCS) and a Squatter Occupancy Survey respectively, covering the dimensions, materials and uses of the squatter structures existing at that time. The survey results were adopted as the baseline for preventing the spread of the squatter problem across the territory and as the benchmark for future control actions.
Under the current squatter control policy, we accord priority to taking enforcement actions against new non-surveyed squatter structures to prevent the spread of the problem. For the surveyed structures, no extension or alteration is allowed and their uses must comply with the SCS records. These surveyed structures are "tolerated" and "allowed to exist" until they are phased out through natural wastage or are required to be cleared for Government resumption for development, environmental improvement or safety reasons (such as proximity to high-risk slopes).
As for surveyed squatter structures with unauthorised extensions, the LandsD has been exercising discretion over the years to allow the occupants to rectify irregularities. For instance, they were allowed to complete the rectification within 28 days. However, given that the squatter control policy explicitly requires enforcement actions to be taken against surveyed squatter structures with irregularities and does not encourage unauthorised extensions, the LandsD does not want to see abuses of the discretionary arrangements for rectification by rapacious occupants who seek to extend their structures, which would in turn worsen the squatter problem. As such, the LandsD decided last week to cease the discretionary arrangements for certain new extensions. Specifically, if there is evidence showing that an unauthorised structure is a new extension completed after June 22 this year, the LandsD will take action upon detection: no further opportunity to rectify will be given. The squatter survey number will be cancelled instantly and the whole unauthorised structure on government land will be demolished. Lease enforcement actions will also be taken against cases involving newly extended structures on private land. As for existing unauthorised extensions, we will continue to adopt the established control practice and require the occupants to rectify the irregularities by a specified deadline.
We understand that there are concerns among some members of the community about the prolonged occupation of government land by squatter structures. However, while the number of squatter structures has greatly decreased over the past few decades, there are still some 80 000 surveyed domestic squatter structures at present. A majority of them were built with temporary materials such as planks and galvanised iron and the hygiene condition is generally poor. These squatter structures are homes to quite a number of grassroots. Given the current supply shortage of both public and private housing units in Hong Kong, we do not find it responsible to demolish all squatter structures across the board without an appropriate rehousing plan in place.
To deal with the squatter problem in Hong Kong properly in the long run, besides stepping up enforcement actions to combat unauthorised extensions, we need to continue to increase land supply for both public and private housing in Hong Kong. One approach is new town development, which has worked well over the years. By way of new town development, we resume government land and release more spaces at the same time. The result will put us in a better position to offer corresponding rehousing arrangements, provide more housing sites and improve the environment. Only by doing so can we bring benefits to the society as a whole.
26 June, 2016
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