HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. BERNACCHI :-Mr. Chairman, from that am I correct in taking it that our staff, i.e. the Urban Services Staff has powers over industrial smoke nuisances?
CHAIRMAN:-It is an authority, but, by agreement, the Labour Department reviews the nuisances where combustion processes are involved.
MR. BERNACCHI:-That agreement, was it reached with the Urban Council, or was it reached with the Urban Services Department?
CHAIRMAN: ---As I explained at the last meeting, this was done with the full knowledge and agreement of the Select Committee concerned.
MR. BERNACCHI: --Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
MR. C. K. CHAN:-Mr. Chairman, this question of air pollution comes before this Council from time to time and we read it in the newspaper from time to time and as I understand that your department is represented on the Air Pollution Committee, would you, Sir, have any objection to my suggestion that, to improve air pollution condition, a report to this Council should be made every three months on the improvement and the steps taken to abate this nuisance?
CHAIRMAN:-I would be prepared to look into this question, Mr. CHAN.
MR. C. K. CHAN:-Much obliged.
(8) DR. DENNY M. H. HUANG asked the following question:
The Tung Tau Resettlement Estate has a population of some 66,000 and there are no bus stops near to the estate. Would the Commissioner for Resettlement kindly make a request to the appropriate authority for the provision of some stops for the convenience of the residents?
THE COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT replied as follows:
This request, which relates to the provision of bus stops in Tung Tau Resettlement Estate, has been referred to the proper authority.
DR. HUANG-Mr. Chairman, just one supplementary. Would the Commissioner for Resettlement tell us when the case was referred to the appropriate authority, and when we may expect to have an answer from them?
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:--I cannot remember the exact date it was referred to the Commissioner for Transport. I understand, in fact, that there has been some discussion between the Kaifong and the other people concerned. There are difficulties involved in this, and all I can say is that I hope we shall shortly be in a position to let you have an answer as to what the position is and what we can do to improve it.
MR. BERNACCHI:-From the Commissioner's answer to the supplementary, I gather that the appropriate authority is the Commissioner for Transport?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-That is correct.
MR. BERNACCHI: Has the request also in any way been taken up with the Bus Company itself?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-I think that is getting a little bit towards being out of order, Mr. Chairman, but I understand that the discussions I referred to have included the Bus Company.
(9) MR. A. de O. SALES asked the following question:
(a) What is the estimated number of squatters on Hong Kong Island?
(b) Is the Commissioner for Resettlement able to tell this Council whether he plans to provide housing for these squatters?
(c) When will those squatters who now live on the hillsides between Tai Hang and Chai Wan be accommodated?
(Mr. Wilson T. S. WANG left the meeting at this point).
THE COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT replied as follows: --
Sir, the squatter population on Hong Kong Island is estimated to be 125,000 of which about 19,000 are rooftop squatters. About 4,000 of these squatters are due to be resettled in planned clearances of land required for development. The remainder are not qualified for resettlement unless they come within any of the other approved priority categories.
There are about 60,000 squatters in the area between Tai Hang and Chai Wan. Of these, about 3,000 will be resettled as a result of clearances now planned.
Page 120 of 237
Page 121 of 237