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into four separate areas, all with adequate kitchens; there should also be a European style restaurant for 100 persons.
Here also, Mr. Chairman, it is hoped that the Government will give early approval to the project so that, in combination with the air-conditioned multi-purpose indoor stadium seating 15,000 people that has been approved by the Government, Hong Kong will have the necessary facilities not only for the use of the local people but also to serve the interests of the local organizations which would like to play host to regional or international meetings, just as some of us have had the opportunity to consider doing but which we had to put aside because of the absence of such physical facilities.
QUESTIONS.
(1) MRS. E. ELLIOTT asked the following question:-
(a) Is it true that a decision was recently made that in view of the number of rooms vacant in the central estates, overcrowded families in the three old estates would be given the option of resettlement in the central estates?
(b) If this is the case, why are families in some of the central estates still unable to obtain decantation when living at less than 18 square feet per person, even when officially they are eligible for decantation at 18 square feet? In this respect, is it not true that there is a waiting list for such families?
(c) How many families not formerly living in the three old estates have been given resettlement at Pak Tin Estate? Leaving aside compassionate cases, is it not true that the original purpose of the Pak Tin Estate was for the decantation of overcrowded families in these estates?
(d) Would it be true to conclude that the overcrowding problem both in the three old estates and in the central estates is almost at a standstill?
(e) Before bringing in families from other estates, could the decantation qualification for all central estates be made not less than 20 square feet?
THE COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT replied as follows:
Sir, in May this year the Resettlement Policy Select Committee agreed that families living at any density in the western group of estates could move to 14 other estates, including the central estates. In fact, only 4 families have moved to the central estates, while a further 23 applications are being processed.
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The qualifying densities for internal decantation in the central estates range from 18 to 20.2 sq. ft. for each adult. Some overcrowded families in these estates who are qualified for internal decantation are unable to obtain larger accommodation because, although there are vacant rooms, the specific type of room they require is not readily available. The families concerned are therefore required to wait for vacancies, and an estate waiting list is maintained in order to determine priorities. In other cases, the available rooms, though of the right size, have not been acceptable to the tenants. It is expected that more vacant rooms of the correct size will be available in Wong Tai Sin and Tung Tau estates after the recent transfers of families to Tsz Wan Shan and Ngau Tau Kok. Meanwhile, at Wang Tau Hom, where there is a relatively large number of vacant D rooms, families waiting for E rooms are being offered type D rooms. It would be possible to restrict the entry of outsiders to the central estates until the density for internal decantation reached 20 sq. ft., but it is a question of weighing the relative degree of need of the families concerned.
The programme for the relief of overcrowding is not at a standstill. Since May 1969, 151 families in the western group and 206 families in the central group have moved to larger rooms within their estate under the internal decantation scheme. A further 376 families in the western group and 691 families in the central group have been offered rooms in developing estates; so far, 52% in the western group and 40% in the central group have accepted these offers and moved to their new rooms. It is expected that most of the offers still outstanding will be accepted.
It was agreed that the first stage of Pak Tin Estate was to be reserved for the decantation of overcrowded families in the western group of estates. However, 158 rooms were allocated to families under the rent advance scheme, as was reported to Members of the Resettlement Policy Select Committee at its meeting on 23rd April, 1969. Apart from compassionate cases, no other family has moved to Pak Tin from other estates.
MRS. ELLIOTT:- Mr. Chairman, I am glad to hear that the decantation programme has not come to a standstill, but I must say that judging by the cases that come to me, it appears to have done so. May I ask the Commissioner, through you, Mr. Chairman, if he will make a report on the situation when the decantation to Tsz Wan Shan and
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