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accepted and the whole process must be begun again. On the average, it takes a month from the time a room becomes empty until it is re-allocated. In the four central Kowloon estates there has been some delay in re-allocating rooms because of the increased rate of decantation in recent months. An added difficulty in these estates is the large number of small rooms that have become vacant, which are of course unsuitable for decantation. The qualifying densities for the allocation of a larger room within the same estate are at present 12 sq. ft. at Shek Kip Mei, 13 sq. ft. at Tai Hang Tung and 14 sq. ft. at Lei Cheng Uk; in Hung Hom, Wong Tai Sin and Chai Wan estates it is 16 sq. ft.; and in the remaining 5 estates it is 18 sq. ft. Families from these estates can also move to developing estates (provided space is available) without any density qualifications.
In the three most overcrowded estates few rooms become vacant and families are generally reluctant to move to other estates. As Members are aware, a new estate is under construction at Pak Tin, in the vicinity of these estates; the first blocks of this estate are due to be completed early next year and should bring about a marked improvement in the situation. During 1967-68, over 42,000 resettlement tenants were moved to larger rooms, compared to just under 17,000 in the previous year. The current year's programme provides for the decantation of a further 40,000 persons.
MRS. ELLIOTT:- Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank the Commissioner for his reply. May I ask if the Commissioner would keep the Wards informed of any changes because I think sometimes we waste our time making applications which would not be written if we knew the density.
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:- I will certainly bear that in mind, Mr. Chairman.
MRS. ELLIOTT:- Thank you.
(6) MR. SOLOMON RAFEEK asked the following question:
Now that the summer season is here and the Medical Department is launching an anti-cholera drive by giving free inoculations to the public, there is still a considerable quantity of prohibited food being sold in streets. What action would be taken by this Department against this illegal practice as part of the anti-cholera drive?
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THE CHAIRMAN, URBAN COUNCIL replied as follows:
This question concerns prohibited foods being sold on the streets.
Members no doubt know that since the disturbances there has been an increase in illegal hawking, including the sale of prohibited and restricted foods such as home-made ice-cream, Leung Fan, non-bottled drinks, Yu sang, meat, fish and cut fruit. I welcome the opportunity afforded by this question to draw the attention of the public to the danger of buying such foods from hawkers, particularly during the hot summer months when cholera is likely to occur. By so doing they are taking a definite risk with the health both of themselves and of their families and they would be well advised to make their purchase only from licensed retailers who are able to ensure a proper standard of hygiene.
Details of action taken by the Hawker Control Force are contained in the Monthly Publicity and Statistical Reports, the latest of which has just been tabled. Members are probably aware of our present difficulties in the field of hawker control, but I would give an assurance that the Hawker Control Force will do its best with the help, where necessary, of the Police, to reduce this danger to the public even though they are still not provided with any means of defending themselves from attack by hawkers some of whom carry choppers and knives as part and parcel of their trade. The Police themselves are also well aware of this public health menace and are active in eliminating it.
MR. RAFEEK:- Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
MOTION.
MRS. E. ELLIOTT moved the following motion:
"That this Council recognize the need to provide reading rooms for study for young people living in the overcrowded urban areas; and that the Library Select Committee be authorized to submit proposals for this purpose.”
She said:- Mr. Chairman, my first task in proposing this motion is to convince my colleagues on the Council, if they need convincing, that there is a great need for reading rooms, as distinct from libraries, so that students whose homes are overcrowded may find a cool and quiet place to study.
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