HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
15
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, I do know that there are demolitions; I am not asking for that figure. I am asking, in relation to this question, does the department have an estimate of the number of structures which should not be tolerated but which do in fact exist?
LEEN.
CHAIRMAN:-I would need notice of that question, Mr. CHEONG-
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-But you agree, Mr. Chairman, that that question that supplementary-is in very close relation to the context of this entire reply?
MR. SALES: --It is not close enough.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-It may not be close enough but I think it is very related. I don't think it is up to Mr. SALES to answer that, I think it is up to you, Mr. Chairman.
MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, I deplore as much as Mr. CHEONG- LEEN the fact that you muzzled the Commissioner for Resettlement; you prevented him from answering Mr. CHEONG-LEEN's supplementary.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Well then Mr. SALES should have got up and said it was very close and not that it is not close enough.
CHAIRMAN: --May we move to the next question, please.
MR. SALES: -Oh, I haven't finished asking my questions yet. Sir, with your permission I would like to refer to 4(c), New Territories squatters 20,000. Am I allowed to ask a supplementary?
CHAIRMAN: -Frame your supplementary, Mr. SALES.
MR. SALES: May I have your permission to ask questions about the New Territories resettlement?
CHAIRMAN:-Frame your question, Mr. SALES.
MR. SALES: -Sir, the 20,000 squatters are only those in areas needed for development?
COMMISSIONER for ResettLEMENT:-I think, Sir, that these figures were supplied by the District Commissioner. I think the actual figures given was squatter structures in the New Territories not covered by permits in the New Territories. The District Commissioner is also the land authority and he is free to issue permits. Once a structure is covered by a permit, it ceases to be a squatter.
MR. SALES:-Sir, is the Commissioner for Resettlement not the competent authority for resettlement in the New Territories?