XN000022-1996-03-06 — Page 131

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Rehousing policy on cottage area residents

Following is a question by the Hon Ip Kwok-him and a written reply by the Secretary for Housing, Mr Dominic S W Wong, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

Will the Government inform this Council:

(a)

whether it has any plan to clear all the remaining cottage areas in the territory;

Reply:

(b)

(c)

Mr President,

if the answer to (a) is affirmative, what is the time-table for the clearance of the cottage areas in order of priority, and how the residents in cottage areas affected by the clearance will be resettled; and

if the answer to (a) is in the negative, whether consideration will be given to formulating a long-term policy on the rehousing of residents in cottage areas?

There are six cottage areas (CAs) in the territory, namely, Fo Tan, Tung Tau, Lai Chi Kok, Mount Davis, So Kon Po and Tiu Keng Leng. Clearance of Tiu Keng Leng CA to allow for the development of Tseung Kwan O new town, including major public housing projects, was announced in April 1995. Partial clearance of So Kon Po CA and Mount Davis CA was announced in April and July 1995 respectively for slope safety reasons. There is no plan to clear the remaining CAS.

It is the Government's policy that no one will be rendered homeless as a result of Government clearance operations. Eligible residents will be offered public rental housing, or given priority to buy Home Ownership Scheme flats, or allowed to join the Home Purchase Loan Scheme to buy flats in the private sector. Ineligible residents in need will be offered accommodation in temporary housing areas.

We will keep the need to clear the remaining CAs under review, taking into account also the availability of our rehousing resources.

End