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ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN.
CHAIRMAN:-Ladies and gentlemen, the meeting is called to order.
Before we start with the Agenda I would like to welcome Mr. WALDEN as Acting Commissioner for Resettlement and Mr. HOLT-KENTWELL as Acting Director of Social Welfare, and Mr. LEE as Acting Secretary for Home Affairs, all of whom you all know well, and also I would like to welcome back Mr. Lo Tak-shing looking very fit and sun-burned.
MINUTES.
The Minutes of the meeting held on 6th July, 1971, were confirmed.
PAPERS.
The Chairman laid upon the table the following papers:-
(1) Report on the work of the Urban Council and Urban Services Department for the month of July, 1971.
(2) Urban Council and Urban Services Department Statistical Report for the period 1st April, 1971 to 30th June, 1971.
(3) Report by the Commissioner for Resettlement on the progress of clearance and resettlement operations for the period 1st April, 1971 to 30th June, 1971.
MR. PETER P. K. NG:-Mr. Chairman, as Chairman of the Food and Food Premises Select Committee I would like to comment on paragraph 10 of the monthly report. I have for some time been concerned that this particular part of the report does not give as true and accurate a picture of the situation as could be wished. I have in mind a number of alterations which would indicate more precisely what the position is. These I have referred to the Urban Services Department and I hope to see improvements made in the presentation of this information in future reports.
I feel I must also comment on the unsatisfactory position relating to the effort and speed of prosecutions against food premises, especially unlicensed ones, and here again I hope that the Department in the light of comments I have made to them will be able to effect substantial improvements both in procedures and the speed with which they deal with these matters.
MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, at the last meeting of the Resettlement Joint Policy and Management Select Committees held on 14th July, a preliminary review was made of the existing training system and future requirements of Resettlement Department staff. The Joint Committee is most concerned that progressive steps will be taken to strengthen staff morale and conditions of service, which will in turn lead to better and more effective management of resettlement estates. Another progress review will probably be made within the next 3 to 6 months.
The Joint Committee also expressed interest in the strengthening of communications between Resettlement Department Staff and estate residents. Suggestions have recently been made in the press that Estates could eventually become self-governing. Since the Resettlement Department under the overall policy direction of the Urban Council is charged with managing the Estates, which are Government property, it is doubtful whether self-government can be instituted within the very near future. I have on the other hand requested the Resettlement Department to look into the possibility of establishing a Consultative Committee within one of the larger estates as an experiment. After the Resettlement Department has had an opportunity to consult the Colonial Secretariat, the matter will be considered by the Joint Committee.
Another subject of importance to resettlement estate residents which was discussed at the Joint Committee Meeting held on 14th July was the need for better police protection for residents living in resettlement estates. The Joint Committee is still studying this matter, and would welcome any suggestions from resettlement estate residents or Resettlement Kaifong Associations or other groups on how to reduce the incidence of crime in resettlement estates.
Members will know that an inter-departmental committee was appointed some time ago under the chairmanship of a Deputy Secretary for Home Affairs to study what improvements, such as markets and recreation facilities, could be made to the environment particularly in and around Resettlement and Low Cost Housing Estates.
The Joint Committee is awaiting with interest the results of this inter-departmental committee's deliberations before going into the matter further.
QUESTIONS.
(1) MR. HENRY H. L. Hu asked the following question:
Is the Chairman aware that there are heaps and piles of rubbish in Kwun Chung Street outside King George V Memorial Park near the Kwun Chung Market which are dangerous to public health? Could the Chairman please inform the Council what measures would be taken to remove such rubbish?
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