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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN.
CHAIRMAN:-Ladies and gentlemen, the meeting is called to order. Before we go through the agenda, I would like to welcome back Mr. Tsui who is here in place of Mr. HOLMES, and also Mr. BLAKER back from home leave. I hope that it was a good leave and that Mrs. BLAKER is well. One further matter before we go through the agenda, I am sure Members would wish me to congratulate Mr. LOBO on the high honour recently bestowed upon him by His Holiness the Pope. (Applause).
MINUTES.
The Minutes of the meeting held on 3rd June, 1969, 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 June, 1969.
REPORT BY CHAIRMAN.
CHAIRMAN:--In accordance with the proviso to Part (4) of the resolution adopted by this Council at its meeting on 1st April, I am reporting a change in the composition of the Resettlement Policy and the Recreation and Amenities Select Committees. On the advice of the Director of Social Welfare, both Select Committees agreed that they would be better served if the officers of the Social Welfare Department directly connected with the activities of the Committees were to replace the Director on these Committees. The Senior Principal Social Welfare Officer, who heads the Family Services Division, and the Senior Principal Social Welfare Officer who heads the Group and Community Work Division of the Social Welfare Department will, therefore, replace the Director on the Resettlement Policy and the Recreation and Amenities Select Committees respectively. The Director of Social Welfare would, of course, attend personally any meeting at which his presence was required by the Committee.
QUESTIONS.
(1) MR. B. A. BERNACCHI asked the following question:
When will the footpath be constructed from Stanley Clinic to St. Stephen's Beach? This Beach has become more and more used by the public in recent years, especially by children, and they are in constant danger of being knocked down by the lorries using the motor road. The previous Ward Councillor for Stanley, Mr. Henry Hu, suggested this footpath last year and it was promised to be constructed.
THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS replied as follows:-
As a result of a question asked by the previous Ward Councillor for Stanley, Mr. Henry Hu, in November of last year, an item was included in the Footpath Improvement Programme for this year to provide a footpath all the way from Stanley Clinic to St. Stephen's Beach. Construction of this footpath started on 23rd June, and should be complete within two months.
MR. BERNACCHI:-I thank the Director of Public Works for that answer. Of course, by the Rules of this Urban Council, the question was submitted before the 23rd June.
(2) MR. HENRY H. L. HU asked the following question:-
Could the Chairman confirm that there were landslides in the Ap Lei Chau resite area at the beginning of June this year? How much damage was caused to the hut-dwellers? Can they be resettled? If not immediately, why not, and when will they be resettled?
THE COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT replied as follows:-
Sir, there was a slight fall of earth at Ap Lei Chau licensed area last month. It could not be classed as a landslide; no huts were damaged and none was seriously threatened. Minor remedial work has been put in hand to avoid any further falls.
In the circumstances, the question of resettlement does not arise.
MR. HU: Mr. Chairman, may I ask one question? If there is a very serious landslide, would the question of resettlement arise?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-That is slightly hypothetical, Sir. But, yes it would.
(3) MR. HENRY H. L. HU asked the following question:-
Besides the Ap Lei Chau resite area, is there any other resite area for those poor people who are homeless, but not
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