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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
plementing the Government's policy of making ex-gratia grants of cash to cleared pig-breeders as an alternative to shops in resettlement estates.
MRS. ELLIOTT:- Mr. Chairman, could I have assurance from the Commissioner that he will not take any action against pig-breeders refusing to accept compensation because they say they have promises of shops? Will he please not cancel their claims until this meeting takes place?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:- Yes, Sir, I can give the assurance.
(2) MRS. E. ELLIOTT asked the following question:
When will the results of applications made recently for decantation to Lam Tin and Sau Mau Ping be made public?
THE COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT replied as follows:-
The closing date for applications for decantation to Lam Tin and Sau Mau Ping was 19th July, 1971. A total of 423 applications were received and these are now being processed.
All applicants will be informed of the results of their applications shortly.
MRS. ELLIOTT:- Mr. Chairman, I know the time of the closing date and I have an idea there are a lot of applications, but I really was asking when the results would be known. You see it is already near two months, how long will "shortly" be?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:- Sir, processing takes quite a little time because it has to be done at two estates, namely at the one where the applicant is and the one where the applicant wants to go, and I think that two months is not really a terribly long time. I think possibly by the end of this month all the applicants will know.
MRS. ELLIOTT:- Mr. Chairman, may I clarify that people keep asking me and I wanted to give some idea. Could we say about another month, roughly?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:- Yes, I think that would be safe enough.
(3) MRS. E. ELLIOTT asked the following question:-
When will applications for decantation to Shek Lei, Tsz Wan Shan and Pak Tin begin to be accepted?
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THE COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT replied as follows:-
Applications for decantation to Shek Lei and Tsz Wan Shan will be invited as soon as the number of rooms available in those two estates for this purpose has been determined.
Decantation to Pak Tin Estate is confined to residents of Shek Kip Mei as part of the redevelopment scheme. Once the scheme has been approved by the Government, Pak Tin Estate will be filled by direct transfers from the Shek Kip Mei blocks which are affected by the redevelopment scheme.
MRS. ELLIOTT:- Mr. Chairman, I am rather surprised at the answer.
Would the Commissioner confirm whether the Shek Kip Mei tenants will be moved only for the redevelopment scheme or will they also be moved to Pak Tin for overcrowding which I thought was the original purpose of Pak Tin?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:- I think not, Sir.
MRS. ELLIOTT:- Mr. Chairman, I find that this skirts around and tells me a lot of things that I already knew. I knew all these things mentioned here. I was asking when because Pak Tin, I believe, has been ready for a long time and people are screaming out for it. When are we going to have it being used?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:- I was only attempting to answer the question as it was put. I think the position is that we must hold the accommodation in Pak Tin open until the Shek Kip Mei scheme has been approved. When it has, almost immediately transfers will begin to take place.
MRS. ELLIOTT:- Mr. Chairman, my question did say "when". It didn't say "how". "when", could we have some idea of when?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:- I think I gave the answer to that. As soon as the scheme is approved.
MRS. ELLIOTT:- How soon is that?
MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN:- Mr. Chairman, I understand a certain amount of processing work has already been taken by the Housing Authority in regard to Pak Tin. In this context can the Commissioner tell the Council whether the proposed Shek Kip Mei Redevelopment Scheme has already been put forward to Executive Council for consideration?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:- I don't know the answer to that.
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