§ 40. Mr. Rankinasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what proposals have now been made by the Government of Hong Kong to acquire the 200 more acres of land necessary to resettle the squatters who are still homeless.
§ Mr. ProfumoThe Hong Kong Government are preparing plans for new resettlement estates covering some 132 acres which are to be built in the next four or five years. All this land is Crown land, but some of it which has been leased, will be resumed, and the leaseholders compensated.
§ Mr. RankinIs the Minister aware that the current Annual Report on Hong Kong states that 200 acres are required if we are to solve the problem of the squatters? Where are those 200 acres to be found—on Victoria Island, Kowloon or in the new territories, or have the Government of Hong Kong some other ideas on the matter?
§ Mr. ProfumoOf those 200 acres I have already said that 132 will be found, 26 and all the technical resources of the Hong Kong Government will be fully employed in these current projects. I think that the latter part of the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question is hypothetical.