XN000022-1982-01-20 — Page 7

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 1982

SQUATTER CONTROL IN EAST KOWLOON GREATLY IMPROVED

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CONTROL OF SQUATTING IN EAST KOWLOON GENERALLY HAS BEEN SUBSTANTIALLY IMPROVED AND NO UNAUTHORISED REBUILDING WILL BE PERMITTED ON ANY OF THE SQUATTER FIRE SITES.

THE SECRETARY FOR HOUSING, MR DONALD LIAO, SAID THIS TODAY IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN REPLY TO QUESTIONS RAISED BY MR WONG LAM.

MR LIAO SAID THOSE FIRE SITES, PARTICULARLY THE SMALLER ONES, NOT CAPABLE OF REDEVELOPMENT WOULD BE CLEARED AND, IF NECESSARY, FENCED TO PREVENT NEW SQUATTING.

HE SAID SOME OF THE LARGER SITES WOULD BE USED FOR PERMANENT DEVELOPMENT, AS FAR AS WAS PRACTICABLE BY REVISING LAYOUTS AND RESCHEDULING PROGRAMMES.

+FOR EXAMPLE, IT IS PROPOSED TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY AT LAM TIN TO ADVANCE PUBLIC RENTAL AND HOME OWNERSHIP PROJECTS, WHILE THE SITES AT SAU MAU PING WILL ALSO PROVIDE AN EXTENSION TO THE NEIGHBOURING PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES,+ HE SAID.

ON THE QUESTION OF CLEARING DEBRIS FROM SQUATTER FIRE SITES, MR LIAO SAID WORKS ORDERS WERE BEING ISSUED AND THE WORK WOULD BE COMPLETED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

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THE WORK WAS NORMALLY DONE BY THE CROWN LANDS AND SURVEY OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT. AND BECAUSE OF THE LARGE NUMBER OF SITES REQUIRING CLEARANCE, 32 AT PRESENT, ADDITIONAL STAFF WERE BEING DEPLOYED FOR THIS PURPOSE, HE ADDED.

HOSPITAL ADMISSION PROCEDURES

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PATIENTS WERE ADMITTED TO HOSPITAL THROUGH CASUALTY WARDS, PRIMARILY ON THEIR MEDICAL CONDITIONS IRRESPECTIVE OF ORIGIN, RACE, COLOUR OR CREED, THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR THE HON K.L. THONG, SAID TODAY.

+CONCOMITANT PROCEDURES, SUCH AS PROOF OF IDENTITY AND REGISTRATION ARE OF SECONDARY IMPORTANCE, HE TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING THIS AFTERNOON.

DR THONG WAS ANSWERING A QUESTION BY AN UNOFFICIAL MEMBER, MR ANDREW SO, WHO ENQUIRED ABOUT THE ADMISSION PROCEDURE TO CASUALTY WARDS IN GOVERNMENT AND SUBVENTED HOSPITALS, WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO PROOF OF IDENTITY.

/HE EXPLAINED