HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
7
The future programme is reviewed annually by the Governor in Council with the advice of the Housing Board, this Council, the Housing Authority and the government departments concerned. This Council has been invited to comment on the Housing Board's reports each year, and has recently been invited to comment on the Board's latest report for the year 1970 before it is submitted for consideration by the Governor in Council.
MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, since this answer was drafted, is it known to the Commissioner what number was resettled in the month of March so as to complete the figure for the year ended 31st March, 1971?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-Mr. Chairman, I have not been able to add up the returns yet. I shall let him know in due course.
MR. SALES: In any case, Mr. Chairman, were the preparations which were made towards the end of February for the resettlement of people in March indicative of a massive addition to this number?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-I think it is indicative of a massive addition for the next few months, not during the last month, Sir.
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, could the Commissioner tell us the reason for the great fall in the number of people resettled since 1967-68?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-It was the result of some set-back in the building programmes.
MR. SALES: What was the set-back in the building programmes that affected so greatly Government's ability to rehouse people in such great need of accommodation?
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS: -Mr. Chairman, perhaps I can answer that. As Members know, it was the failure of the building contractors. I think three of our main building contractors failed in those two years.
MR. SALES: The same building contractors as those who are responsible for swimming pools?
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS:-Mr. Chairman, one of them was.
MR. SALES: My next supplementary, Mr. Chairman, is this. How far short of the target in each year was the actual resettlement accommodation which was provided to the people of Hong Kong? By how much did the offer fall short of the target approved by this Council?
CHAIRMAN:-Could you say for which years?