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into this category. The Government has recently proposed to withdraw its resumption of this sort of private streets because the balconies of many buildings are extending into the streets and government resumption would give rise to complicated disputes over the ownership. Alongside the problem that there is a need for the Department to provide cleansing services to these private streets is, as brought up by a Member today, the problem of illegal shop extensions infringing onto the streets. These are problems which cannot be solved easily.
Hence, in supporting the motion, we have to point out that apart from considering the need to provide cleansing services for private streets, the Council is also required to follow up on the problem of illegal shop extensions. Under the Government's programme of resumption of private streets, some streets will be resumed gradually and improvement will be made, but we must follow up on this in order to improve the living condition of the residents. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Chairman (in Cantonese):—The computer shows that no more Members have registered to speak. May I ask Mr. Wong Kwok-hing, the mover, whether he wishes to exercise his right of reply? Mr. Wong please.
Mr. Wong Kwok-hing (in Cantonese):—I thank all those Members who have spoken in support of the motion with one heart. The basic spirit of the motion is to carry out an overall review as soon as possible. As one of the Members pointed out, we actually are not 100% certain what the definition of a `private street' is. Neither do we know it. How does its present definition differ from the one in the past? The Department should provide the information to us at an early date for our discussion.
A related issue is the exact number of private streets. As I said just now, the Department told us that there were some 200 private streets, but I doubt it very much. As a Member who has just pointed out, there are some 100 private streets in the Central and Western districts while there are around 30 in the Eastern district. They have already accounted for the majority of the 200 private streets. Is the figure an accurate reflection of the situation? I have reservation about it.
The Department indicated that about 60 private streets are not provided with municipal services. I feel strange about this. I wonder why half of these 60-odd private streets is in the Eastern district, since there are 30-odd private streets in the Eastern District which are not provided with any municipal services by the Department. I don't want to use the word 'discriminating', but why is the Eastern district not equally treated? Why are the 30-odd private streets in the Eastern district not provided with normal municipal services? I too wish to know the reason at an early date.
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