The Shek Kip Mei Myth: Squatters, Fires and Colonial Rule in Hong Kong, 1950-1963Alan Smart raises serious questions about the standard view that Hong Kong's mass public housing programme was a direct and humane response by the Government to the Shek Kip Mei fire. Rather he argues that the Government's response to that fire was grudging and incremental rather than a sharp and radical turning point, and that the security and stability of Hong Kong weighed as heavily, possibly more so, in the decisions than the predicament of the fire victims. His research shows that a whole sequence of major fires after Shek Kip Mei, and the political costs of the Mainland sending comfort missions to fire victims both before and after were needed to bring about the final commitment to provide mass public housing. In his critical examination of the conventional position, Professor Smart bases his case on a thorough reading of government records and provides a careful investigation into the origins of the public housing policy in Hong Kong. This volume makes an important contrarian contribution to the postwar history of Hong Kong and is a significant addition to the study of its modern development. |
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The Shek Kip Mei Myth: Squatters, Fires and Colonial Rule in Hong Kong, 1950 ... Alan Smart No preview available - 2006 |
Common terms and phrases
accommodation action allowed approach approved argued Authority British building chapter China Chinese City clear clearance Colonial Secretary Committee concerns consider considerable construction continued costs Crown land decision Department despite direct discussed early effective efforts emergency established examine Executive Council fire victims forms given HKRS Hong Kong huts illegal important increased initiatives interests interventions involved issues January Kip Mei fire Kong's Kowloon land lanes limited living major March multi-storey nature noted November offered Officer particularly Party political population possible practices Press prevent proposals public housing questions Report Resettlement Department Resettlement Programme residents response result rule scheme seems seen serious Shek Kip Mei situation Smart Social Welfare Society space squatter areas squatter clearance squatter fires squatter problem squatter resettlement squatting streets structures substantial suggested tolerated Tung turn Urban Council villagers