XN000022-1972-12-13 — Page 8

7

Wednesday, December 13, 1972

DECISION SOON ON ALLOCATING MARKET STALLS

In Hing Wah Estate

A decision is expected to be made early next year on how best to

allocate the market stalls in the Hing Wah Estate, Phase I.

The Secretary for Housing, the Hon. I.M. Lightbody, said today it

has recently be suggested that the problems presented by hawkers trading in

the nearby Chai Wan Estate generally, should be looked at overall before a

decision is made.

Speaking in reply to the Hon. Joyce Symons in the Legislative Council,

he said a survey of hawkers in the area is proceeding and should be finished

within this week.

After that, he said, there will be a joint study by Resettlement and

Urban Services Department staff with a view to putting agreed proposals to the

appropriate Select Committee of the Urban Council at its meeting in January

next.

Mr. Lightbody said that although the modular market at Hing Wah

Estate, Phase I, was completed about 18 months ago, the estate blocks had been

fully occupied only in the last month or so, and as recently as August this

year, the estate was only 80 per cent occupied.

"In this situation, it is better to have the residential blocks more

or less fully occupied before leasing the market stalls," he said.

In reply