HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MINUTES.
The Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 20th September, 1961, were confirmed.
PAPER.
THE CHAIRMAN laid upon the table the following paper:-
Report on the work of the Urban Council and Urban Services Department for the month of September 1961.
QUESTIONS.
MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:
"(a) As of the end of March 1961, the total number of persons living in resettlement areas and estates was 380,000; will the Commissioner for Resettlement please state how many more persons have been resettled between 1st April this year to the 30th September?
(b) Is the Commissioner for Resettlement satisfied with the rate of progress so far? Approximately how many more persons will be resettled between now and the end of the current financial year?
(c) Does the Commissioner for Resettlement consider that the target resettlement figure of 100,000 or more is feasible for the current financial year?”
THE COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT replied as follows:-
"This question or rather series of questions concerns target figures for Resettlement. The overall totals in the Estates and Areas for the end of March and end of September this year respectively are approximately 379,890 and 422,358. Subtracting one from the other the overall increase for the period in question has been 42,468 but it should be remembered firstly that this figure includes a natural increase of about 1,400 (leaving a balance of approximately 41,000) and secondly that the population of the Cottage Areas has in fact decreased consequent on clearances at Ho Man Tin and elsewhere. During this period 9,213 persons from Cottage Areas were resettled in the Estates. This means that the total influx from clearances into the Estates as opposed to the Areas over the period was approximately 50,000.
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time, I pointed out the difficulties involved. I can assure you that there is no question of my being complacent. I realize that there is a long way to go yet. It is also true that the figure of 100,000 will not be quite attained this year as the balance for the rest of the year is unlikely to exceed 36,000 making an overall increase of about 86,000 resettled into the Estates, or of about 77,000 added to the population of Estates and Areas. The overall population as at 31st March, 1962, will thus be in the region of 457,000.
I should of course like to mention two facts which are material. First of all it is important to remember that approximately one seventh of all accommodation made available by the Public Works Department is devoted to non-domestic purposes such as schools, clinics, welfare centres, etc. Secondly, it is not possible to produce buildings on a smooth flowing conveyor belt system. In some years the production line will move faster than others. My friend the Director of Public Works is however stepping up the tempo despite his obligations in regard to Low-Cost Housing and I have every confidence that the overall level of 100,000 persons resettled into Estates per year as an average for the next three years will be attained."
MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:-
"(a) With regard to the Resettlement's special programme of 'low-cost housing estates' (as apart from resettlement type of accommodation), will the Commissioner for Resettlement please state how soon the Hung Hom and Kwun Tong projects will be completed?
(b) Will the Commissioner for Resettlement also state to what extent work has commenced on the two further sites for 'low-cost housing estates' at Wong Tai Sin and Shek Kip Mei?
(c) What other sites have been reserved for the Department's special programme of 'low-cost housing estates'?”
THE COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT replied as follows:-
"These questions concern Low-Cost Housing as opposed to resettlement proper and I am happy to pass on the following factual information in reply:-
(a) (i) At the Kwun Tong Estate, site formation work should be completed by mid-November this year. Tenders for the building contracts have been
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