Pa
Page 32 of 206
4
44
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
application of this new policy since additional vacant rooms would not have become available until later this year.
MRS. ELLIOTT:-Mr. Chairman, that was a very long answer to a very simple question. I was only wanting to ask if we can just be informed what is going on, that is all.
MR. P. K. NG: Mr. Chairman, may I ask where were these notices sent to Ward Councillors?
MR. CHAN:-They are normally sent by the Resettlement Depart- ment to my Ward clerk and he normally puts them in my place for when I go to the office. I do not read them until I get them on Ward duty.
MR. NG: Mr. Chairman, would it be possible for these notices to be sent to offices of the Councillors instead of the Ward?
MR. CHAN:-I think the Commissioner would agree to send to both, one to the Councillor's office and one to the Ward office as well.
MR. BERNACCHI: Mr. Chairman, on a point of order and explanation, I do object to the word "ward clients". Clients involved legal or medical implication. "Persons", please, for those who come into see Councillors in their Ward, not "Ward clients".
(6) MRS. E. ELLIOTT asked the following question:
(a) Approximately how many tenants of resettlement estates are living at a density of less than 24 square feet per adult (12 for a child under 10)?
(b) Approximately how many are living at 35 or more square
feet per adult?
MR. PETER C. K. CHAN, CHAIRMAN OF THE RESETTLEMENT SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows:
As at 31st March this year, there were 48,872 families, com- prising some 364,000 persons living in resettlement estates at a density worse than 24 square feet per adult. 32,959 families, comprising some 149,000 persons, were living at a density of 35 or more square feet per adult.
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, arising out of Mrs. ELLIOTT's ques- tion (a) "for a child under 10" and knowing my attitude on this
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
45
matter, can I ask in point of fact then how many children are there under 10 which have been taken as sub-units by the Resettlement Department?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:--I think, Mr. Chairman, I would like notice of that question.
MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, following up on that question, can I ask also that the Resettlement Policy Select Committee consider the point which I made repeatedly that children should be treated humanely as units and not sub-units?
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, could I ask the Commissioner for Resettlement for new allocations based on 35 sq. ft. and over per person.
What is the space allocation for children under 10?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-Mr. Chairman, it is the standard 50% of the adult allocation, but perhaps I should explain that under our new allocation tables which have been made known to the Resettlement Select Committee, they are very flexible and, depending on the ability and willingness of the tenant to pay higher rent, he is able to get an allocation which at times can go up as high as 45 sq. ft. per adult and thereby 22 sq. ft. per child. The tables are flexible and they do recognize the tenant's ability to pay rent and they can, as I say, give much more space than they seem to, to children.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, administratively then, could the Commissioner give assurance to this Council that for all future allocations, wherever feasible, children could be, as generously as possible, give an allocation above the normal 50% of an adult alloca- tion?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT: — -Mr. Chairman, I am afraid that is not possible in quite the way it is put. The policy is that the allocation should give a child half the adult space. What I am trying to say is, the allocation tables which are known to and, I think, agreed by the Committee are very flexible indeed and can result in a much higher space allocation to a child than would seem to be the case. If Mr. CHEONG-LEEN is speaking about a review of the policy, that is another matter.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, I was not speaking about a review of the policy, I was speaking about the possibility of greater flexibility of the administrative procedure in favour of the child.
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, you have still not given me the assurance I seek that you will ask the newly constituted Select Committee to consider the fundamental question of children not being discriminated against when being resettled, and I would certainly protest at the
|i