HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
now been in existence for 4-5 years, 14 preliminary warning letters for domestic rooms and 7 for shops were required during this period, leading to final warning letters. No letters terminating tenancy were issued in either estate during this period.
The principal measure by which the Department combats sub-letting and other irregularities in connexion with tenancies is the monthly check on all rooms in an estate, which is a responsibility imposed on the Area Officers in charge of blocks by Departmental Standing Instructions. Rooms are inspected during normal patrol hours at least once a month. Where irregularities are suspected, though no proof is obtainable during working hours, a night check may be made, which usually reveals the true position.
Where these cases are detected, they are dealt with by verbal warnings followed, if necessary, by preliminary and final warning letters, as above. If these fail to have an effect, the matter is placed before the Delegated Member of the Resettlement Management Select Committee for him to decide whether a letter terminating tenancy should be sent. Only 4 such letters were issued in the period 1st July to 30th September.
In general, therefore, it can be said that sub-letting is a minor problem in domestic rooms in resettlement estates. The monthly checks made by area staff are regarded as an efficient means of reducing the problem to manageable proportions and there is good reason to think that the recent administrative instruction for strengthening the checks by means of room charts, which have to be completed each month by the Area Officers in charge of blocks, will produce even better results.
If you have any further suggestions, you are welcome to put them forward for consideration at the next meeting of Resettlement Management Select Committee.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- Mr. Chairman, as a matter of interest, would the Commissioner be in a position to say whether approximately 5% or less than 5% of the population in the resettlement estates are illegal or are sub-tenants?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:- I would not be in a position to hazard a guess.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- There has been no approximation made in recent months?
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:- An approximation might have been made but it can only have been in a loose form without any substantial foundation.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- Thank you.
MR. CHEUNG WING-IN asked the following question:
There have been complaints in the Chinese press of poor management in Resettlement Estates particularly those in Shek Kip Mei, Li Cheng Uk and Tai Hang Tung, such as the insanitary and unclean condition of latrines, the presence of heaps of rubbish and choked drains.
Will the Commissioner for Resettlement inform the Council whether these complaints are justified and, if so, what steps have been taken to improve amenities in such estates?
THE COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT replied as follows:
The complaints about the dirty and insanitary condition of latrines in these three old estates are no longer justified since the communal latrines there have been altered to automatic sea water flushing every 15 minutes. Previously, the supply of water had admittedly been intermittent and inadequate. The present system is reliable and breakdowns are infrequent and the compartments are cleaned and washed by the latrine attendants in each block at least twice a day. The use of plastic fittings reduces breakdowns due to theft of metal working parts. On the rare occasion when the sea water fails temporarily for technical reasons, immediate action is taken to inform the Water Authority and to post notices asking the tenants to co-operate by saving ablution water for use in the latrines. There is a senior officer in each estate in special charge of sanitation and the control of cleansing staff to ensure that the latrines, bath-houses, etc. are in a satisfactory condition. Such activities are co-ordinated by the Resettlement Officer (Sanitation) whose post was created on the 1st April, 1963.
Large heaps of rubbish should seldom be in evidence, since the estates are constantly being swept by the sanitation labourers, but the existence of scattered litter is inevitable due to the insanitary habits of many of the settlers who, regardless of the public welfare, jettison unwanted litter
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