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(10) MR. CHEUNG WING-IN asked the following question:-
The residents of Tin Wan Resettlement Estate have suggested that there should be at least one public latrine within or near the estate which has a population of 15,000 people. Will the Commissioner for Resettlement take steps to have this public latrine installed in order to meet the wishes of the residents of the estate?
THE ACTING COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT replied as follows:-
The Estate has 1,679 water closets. These are for the exclusive use of the residents at a ratio of one water closet to two families. In addition, there are 54 public water closets and 9 trough urinals for men, and 74 public water closets for women on the ground floors of each of the five "L" type blocks in the Estate. There are also 104 public urinals on the upper floors of the five "I" type blocks in the Estate.
These figures would not indicate any need for additional facilities for the residents of the Estate, but there might be a need to post notices to inform the public where the facilities are located. This is being investigated.
(11) MRS. E. ELLIOTT asked the following question:-
(a) How many children of pre-primary school age are being cared for on the roof-tops or other accommodation in the older Resettlement Estates?
(b) How does this compare in ratio to the population with the number being cared for in equivalent accommodation in the newer estates?
THE ACTING COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT replied as follows:-
I should start with a series of caveats: namely that although we do know that some children living in estates go to establishments outside, and some others who live outside come to establishments in the estates, we do not know in which direction any balance may be flowing; that although age limits may be stipulated or recommended for day nurseries or kindergartens, restricting attendance to children below primary school age, we do know that some accept applicants aged 6 and above; that some primary schools in estates also have kindergarten classes, but that the records of all these are not readily available; that although play centres and boys' and girls' clubs usually cater for older groups, some of them do admit children of the age discussed; that short of a door-to-door survey we do not know how many of the babies included are still quite literally in their mothers' arms and in no need of outside care; and accordingly that the figures I shall quote can only give the roughest of guides and should not be used to draw long deductions.
In the old estates there are at the moment ten nurseries, attended by 1,362 children, but with 186 vacancies; eleven play centres with 4,022 children, but 328 vacancies; and six kindergartens with 1,648 children attending. Total, 7,032 children. On the further assumption that the proportion of children below 6 to those below 10 is the same throughout all sectors of the colony, there are slightly under 79,000 children of pre-primary school age living in urban Mark I and II blocks, and so just under one child in eleven is being cared for in the way indicated. Also, one additional kindergarten is likely to be opened shortly in an old, closed estate.
In the new estates there are already six nurseries, attended by 815 children, but with 275 vacancies waiting to be filled; and three kindergartens attended by 1,178. 1,993 therefore out of something under 36,000 children gives a ratio of a little under one child in eighteen, or less than two-thirds of the equivalent for the old estates. However, it must be remembered that separate free-standing estate welfare buildings are to be provided in the Mark III to V estates, providing accommodation to make up for the lack of roof-top or other welfare provisions. The first of these will be ready next year. Furthermore, one more new kindergarten is about to open in a Mark IV block.
MRS. ELLIOTT:- Mr. Chairman, in view of the fact that the new estates are more isolated, whereas the older ones are nearer to other kindergartens, and in view of the fact that many children cannot go to school because they have to look after the babies, could we have a review of this situation in six months to see if we can think of ways to provide some accommodation for pre-primary school children to allow the older ones to go to school instead of looking after the babies? I would like a review of this question, and maybe discussion in the Policy Select Committee, to see if we can provide further accommodation.
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