TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1981
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LEGCO TO DISCUSS SQUATTER FIRES
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THE RECENT HIGH INCIDENCE OF SQUATTER FIRES AND THE IR RELATED PROBLEMS WILL BE A MAJOR TOPIC OF DISCUSSION IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY).
UNOFFICIAL MEMBER, THE HON LYDIA DUNN, WILL ASK ABOUT THE SIZE OF THE SQUATTER POPULATION AND THE PROBLEMS ARISING FROM THE RECENT SERIOUS FIRES IN SQUATTER AREAS, AND IF ANY CHANGES ARE BEING CONSIDERED IN PRESENT POLICIES AND ARRANGEMENTS.
ANOTHER UNOFFICIAL MEMBER, DR THE HON HO KAM-FAI, WILL ENQUIRE ABOUT MEASURES THE GOVERNMENT IS TAKING TO HELP SQUATTERS REDUCE FIRE RISKS.
QUESTIONS ON SQUATTER-HUT RACKETEERING WILL ALSO BE RAISED. THE HON WONG LAM WILL ASK ABOUT PROSECUTION ACTION AGAINST SUCH RACKETEERS AND WHETHER NEW MEASURES ARE BEING TAKEN AGAINST SYNDICATED RACKETS.
THE DANGERS ASSOCIATED WITH USING GAS WATER HEATERS WITH CLOSED WINDOWS WILL ALSO BE RAISED. MISS DUNN WILL ASK WHAT ACTION THE GOVERNMENT HAS TAKEN TO IMPLEMENT THE PRELIMINARY RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE GAS SAFETY CONSULTANTS IN REGARD TO THE SAFETY OF GAS WATER HEATERS, AND WHEN THE CONSULTANT'S FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS CAN BE EXPECTED.
OTHER QUESTIONS FROM UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS WILL DEAL WITH ELDERLY PATIENTS ABANDONED IN GOVERNMENT AND SUBVENTED HOSPITALS, THE ABUSE OF MATERNITY BENEFITS FOR WORKERS, DISCRIMINATION OF HONG KONG PRODUCTS UNDER JAPAN'S GENERALISED SCHEME OF PREFERENCES, THE CASELOAD OF SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT CASEWORKERS AND PROBATION OFFICERS, AND HIRE-CAR PERMITS.
THE COUNCIL WILL ALSO CONSIDER THE IMMIGRATION (AMENDMENT)(NO 4) BILL WHICH SEEKS TO TIGHTEN UP EXISTING LEGISLATION DEALING WITH ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION.
TWO UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS ARE EXPECTED TO SPEAK IN THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE LANDLORD AND TENANT (CONSOLIDATION) (AMENDMENT)(NO 2) BILL WHICH PROVIDES A MECHANISM FOR REGULATING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LANDLORDS AND TENANTS OF DOMESTIC PREMISES EXCLUDED FROM THE EXISTING RENT CONTROL LEGISLATION AND THOSE WHICH ARE SCHEDULED TO BE EXCLUDED IN FUTURE.
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