HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Do you need a statistician to estimate the number of rats, Mr. Chairman?
CHAIRMAN:-Either that or a mathematician.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-I leave it to you to decide whether you need a statistician.
MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:
"In view of the everpresent danger of tuberculosis, would the Commissioner for Resettlement advise what steps he would be prepared to take, in consultation with the Director of Medical and Health Services, to encourage people in the resettlement areas and estates to attend Government Chest Clinics, especially the Shek Kip Mei Clinic, for regular routine Chest examination?”
THE COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT replied as follows:
"I understand that all the children attending Boys' and Girls' Clubs in the resettlement estates have already been X-rayed. During the year 1959, there were 447,000 attendances at the Shek Kip Mei Clinic; this Clinic caters for the general area North of Boundary Street but the majority of the patients are from resettlement estates. In addition, 3,147 home visits were made during the year to patients within the estates.
I should be glad to encourage settlers to visit the Clinic for regular examinations but I think these figures indicate that they are already aware of the facilities available and are making good use of them."
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:--A point of clarification, Mr. Chairman. In the second paragraph when it is stated that the settlers are already aware of the facilities available, is the Commissioner referring specifically to the Shek Kip Mei clinic?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT: Yes, I was.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:--Is he able to state at the moment, Mr. Chairman, what measures he would take to encourage settlers to visit the clinic? Does he have any specific measures in mind?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-That will have to be discussed with the Medical Department. I have nothing in mind but it will be a question of propaganda.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-I hope that the need to encourage settlers in other estates will also be borne in mind. I would like to address a question to the Assistant Director, Medical and Health Services.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
CHAIRMAN:--I am afraid that notice should be given.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Very pertinent to this question, Mr. Chairman. Does he know whether the facilities at the Shek Kip Mei clinic are fully extended in regard to the facilities available for X-ray.
CHAIRMAN:-I am afraid I cannot accept that question. I require notice.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Not even a pertinent question like this, Mr. Chairman?
CHAIRMAN:--I am afraid not.
MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:
"Would the Commissioner for Resettlement confirm that low-rental housing will be administered by the Resettlement Department under the direction of this Council in the same way as the present standard resettlement accommodation?"
THE COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT replied as follows:-
"I confirm that this is correct."
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-A supplementary, Mr. Chairman.
CHAIRMAN:--I should have thought this question was completely answered.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-In clarification of the answer, does that in effect mean that the Urban Council will be responsible for low cost housing of improved resettlement type? In other words are we going into low cost housing?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT: I think that question is answered by the answer I have given.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-May I word my question a different way. Does this mean in effect that the Council will now be responsible for providing housing for people in Urban areas who are earning less than $300 per month?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-Yes, the position is that it has been agreed that there should be this low cost housing and it will be undertaken by the Resettlement Department under the direction of this Council.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Does the Commissioner for Resettlement know if the Government has decided to assign to the Urban Council the role of slum clearance?
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