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MR. C. K. CHAN:- Mr. Chairman, just a point of information. I think at least about 90% of these Sai Cho Wan residents has submitted a joint application to my Ward Office. I've asked for the other 10% to submit their names as well and then I have been requested by this particular Committee to approach the China Light Company to look into the possibility, and I think one of the Administrative Officers of the Resettlement Department promised to assist, but I would still be waiting for the other 10% of the residents in this Sai Cho Wan area tomorrow, they will come to my office tomorrow. If Mrs. ELLIOTT is interested in that, I will keep her informed of this.
MRS. ELLIOTT:- Mr. Chairman, on the contrary, may I keep Mr. CHAN informed. (Laughter). There has been a meeting and the price has already been fixed, but it was done by representatives with the China Light & Power Company Ltd. and not with the Resettlement Department.
CHAIRMAN:- It does look, ladies and gentlemen, as though there is a fairy godmother and a fairy godfather for these people, who are looking after them without telling the rest of us. (Laughter).
MRS. ELLIOTT:- Well, the Resettlement Department should do it so that we are not wasting our efforts.
MR. C. K. CHAN:- But, Mr. Chairman, I am aware that they have approached Mrs. ELLIOTT for help and I think they believe that with a joint effort the more Councillors come to assist the better, that is their attitude, and I think Mrs. ELLIOTT is helping them a great deal and I will certainly do my part.
MRS. ELLIOTT:- Mr. Chairman, I think Mr. CHAN has helped, but I think it's the Resettlement Department's responsibility.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- Mr. Chairman, don't you think that if you created the post of Honorary Adviser and appoint Mrs. ELLIOTT and Mr. CHAN as honorary advisers, Resettlement Department, things can be expedited?
CHAIRMAN:- I am not sure if the Commissioner requires any more advice than he has already received. (Laughter).
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- Mr. Chairman, they are virtually acting as honorary advisers anyway.
MR. BERNACCHI:- Mr. Chairman, I hate to prolong this matter, but would the Commissioner assure the Council that the Resettlement Department is doing everything in their power to get a supply of electricity to these people?
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COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:- That, I'm afraid, is not a question that I can answer unless I know what this might involve. The Resettlement Department, as I have already said, would be prepared to assist if they can, but if this involves financial assistance then we would have to re-consider the whole question on the question of fees, and everything else.
MR. BERNACCHI:- Yes, I take the point as regards the fees, but with that rider, is the Resettlement Department doing their best to get electricity for these people?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:- There again, the other half of the proposition is that we should provide, as I understand it, land for meter rooms, and transformers, and things of that sort. That again is a matter for negotiation. If you mean are we assisting the people to get together with the Power Company, I think Mrs. ELLIOTT and Mr. CHAN between them have already done that if there is anything more we can do, we will try and assist.
MRS. ELLIOTT:- Mr. Chairman, I agree with you, but really is it our responsibility - are the Resettlement Department officers not paid to do this? It only takes an hour or two fixing up a meeting, that's all.
MR. BERNACCHI:- My point goes further than that. Having met the electric company, so that they will supply electricity, on certain conditions - one of them being the provision of space for a power house - now, what is the Resettlement Department doing about that? Are they consulting the Crown Lands? What is the position?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:- I thought I had already made that clear. We have written to say exactly what we were going to do on that. We would consult departments concerned.
(9) MR. HENRY H. L. HU asked the following question:-
Is the Chairman aware that since February 1968 I wrote several letters to the Resettlement Department for resettling about 300-400 boat families in the Hong Kong & Whampoa Dock Company's site in Aberdeen in event the sea area needs to be filled up? Could the Chairman inform the Council whether there is any result for my request on behalf of the boat families?
MR. J. P. ASERAPPA, COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT, replied as follows:
Mr. Chairman, I have been in correspondence with Mr. HU and I have explained the position regarding the boat
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