Page 85 of 107
154
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
With regard to television no permanent wiring will be installed by Government since it is not possible to cover every contingency without going to unrealistic expense. It will however be quite practicable to televise events in the main rooms on an "outside broadcast" basis. If the operators of Television consider that any further installation is required I am naturally open to suggestions provided that they agree to meet any expenses arising therefrom. The proposals are very comprehensive and, if they are accepted, the City Hall will probably have one of the finest installations of this nature of any building of its kind anywhere in the world.”
MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:-
"I have received complaints from several residents living in resettlement estates that they have not been allowed to keep birds as pets:
(a) Will the Commissioner for Resettlement please advise
whether or not such is permitted?
(b) If the answer is in the affirmative, will the Commissioner for Resettlement be good enough to advise resettlement officers to this effect?"
THE COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT replied as follows:
"The conditions of tenancy in resettlement estates provide that a cat may be kept as a pet but no other animals. I do not think it was intended that this prohibition should extend to birds and the estates staff have been instructed that birds may be kept as pets, provided of course that no nuisance or annoyance is caused to neighbouring tenants."
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: --A very satisfactory answer, Mr. Chairman, and I have no supplementary on this one.
MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:—
"(a) Will the Commissioner for Resettlement be good enough to state how many cases of drug addiction and drug peddling were discovered in the resettlement estates and areas from January through November, 1959?
(b) What action was taken when such cases were discovered? (c) How do the statistics for January/November, 1959 compare with those for similar periods during the past two years?
(d) Has the Commissioner yet raised with Government the question of urgently-needed treatment for drug addicts found in resettlement areas and estates?
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
155
(e) What further steps does the Commissioner propose to take in regard to drug addiction in the resettlement areas and estates?"
THE COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT replied as follows:-
"During the period January to November, 1959 there were 13 convictions for offences under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance committed in the estates or cottage areas. The charge in each case was possession of dangerous drugs. Drug addiction is not an offence in itself and I have no statistics of the number of settlers affected.
2.
3.
4.
The comparable figures for 1957 and 1958 are 61 and 60 respectively.
Where the offence was the possession of more than five packets of dangerous drugs the tenancy or the occupation permit, as the case may be, of the resettlement room or cottage where the offence was committed was terminated, in accordance with the Council's policy. Six settlers were accordingly evicted from resettlement accommodation in 1957, 4 in 1958 and 1 in 1959.
Government has recently issued a White Paper on the problem of narcotics in the Colony, setting out very clearly its policy and the measures proposed to be taken to deal with this problem. Drug addiction in the resettlement estates and areas will be treated as part of the whole problem in the Colony and will be dealt with in accordance with this policy, in consultation with the departments concerned."
If we
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-A supplementary, Mr. Chairman. follow the conservative estimate that there are 150,000 drug addicts in the Colony is it conceivable that in the resettlement areas and estates there are about 15,000 drug addicts?
CHAIRMAN: --You are asking for an expression of opinion which cannot be allowed.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-I appreciate that Mr. Chairman. Has consultation yet started with the departments concerned?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT: -Yes, it has.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: ---Thank you.
MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:·
"(a) Will the Chairman please give the latest figures on the number of litter bins in Kowloon and Hong Kong Island?
Page 85
Page 86