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and I think it would be a great hardship on them for Government to demand in advance this deposit of $1,600, say, for a full-size family. These people, I have said, live from hand to mouth as far as the average man is concerned. It is "key money", no matter what term Government may wish to apply to it.
The last point I would like to make, Mr. Chairman, is that with regard to poor families, the public was under the impression that these families will have an opportunity of priority of resettlement. If Government is going to go through with its proposal for collecting $400 in advance per person, I do not think this proposal is going to be practical.
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT: Mr. Chairman, may I just make a correction on a previous statement which I made with reference to interest? It is actually paragraph 18, not paragraph 17.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: Mr. Chairman, it is a minor point which I do accept.
MRS. ELLIOTT: Mr. Chairman, if this is "key money" I wish my landlord would pay my key money back in the same way. (Laughter).
CHAIRMAN: The motion before the Council has been proposed by Mr. H. CHEONG-LEEN and seconded by Mr. CHEUNG Wing-in.
The question was put.
The motion was carried, with 5 for, 4 against, and 9 abstaining.
TRIBUTE TO THE HONOURABLE J. J. ROBSON.
CHAIRMAN: Before we adjourn, there is one further matter. Today's is the last meeting at which we will enjoy the company of Mr. ROBSON, as Mr. WRIGHT is now resuming the office of Director of Public Works. Mr. ROBSON has been a most friendly, helpful and capable colleague, and I feel sure that Members will wish me to express to him our appreciation of his services and help to the Council. (Applause).
MR. BERNACCHI: On behalf of the Unofficial Members of this Council, I join with you, Sir, in your expressions of goodwill. I have known Mr. ROBSON since the War years and we were together at a place called Addu Atoll, then called Port T, a group of islands on the Equator. I have great respect for Mr. ROBSON's common sense, and he has been a great help to this Council during the tenure of his office as Director of Public Works. (Applause).
ADJOURNMENT — 6.53 P.M.
CHAIRMAN: That concludes the business of this meeting. Council stands adjourned until Tuesday, 3rd November, 1964.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
APPENDIX I.
Paper laid on the table by the Chairman, Urban Council at the Urban Council Meeting of 6th October, 1964.
Slum Clearance Policy
At the Urban Council Meeting on 7th July, 1964 Mr. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:
"Will the Chairman inquire from Government whether it has a slum clearance policy for the urban areas? If so, what are the details; if not, why not?"
The Chairman replied as follows:
"The answer is 'Yes'. I have conveyed your inquiry to the Colonial Secretariat and I am now awaiting a reply."
In a supplementary question, Mr. CHEONG-LEEN asked whether, in view of the importance of the subject to the community, the reply could be tabled at a meeting of the Urban Council following its receipt.
The following reply has now been received from the Colonial Secretary:
"I would draw your attention to paragraph 37 of the White Paper entitled a Review of Policies for Squatter Control, Resettlement, and Government Low-cost Housing, 1964, and the following extract from the Colonial Secretary's speech in Legislative Council on 16th September.
'Another matter touched on by the Working Party was the planning of slum clearance, and I am able to report that Your Excellency has appointed my honourable Friend, the Director of Public Works, to head a strong inter-departmental Working Party with wide terms of reference to investigate the problems involved. The Director of Public Works' Committee is being requested, in particular, to give us proposals for a suitable pilot scheme from which we may be able to gain important experience of this form of re-housing, and to bring under special study the possibility of associating private owners in joint re-development with Government.'
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