TNAG-0317-FCO40-353-Policy-of-housing-and-resettlement-in-Hong-Kong-problem-of-s-1971 — Page 48

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

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rooms are insufficient for such a large population. I do urge the Resettlement Committee to go into the suggestion I have made.

MR. HU:-Yes, we certainly will, Mr. Chairman.

(8) MRS. E. ELLIOTT asked the following question:-

What steps are being taken to quicken up the procedure for

allocating compassionate resettlement rooms?

MR. HENRY H. L. HU, CHAIRMAN OF THE ResettlemeNT MANAGE- MENT SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows: —

At their meeting on the 24th February 1971, the Resettlement Management Select Committee discussed the question of compassionate resettlement in some detail. On the instructions of the Select Committee, an inter-departmental meeting was held between officers of the Social Welfare, Medical and Resettlement Departments at which the procedure for resettling families on compassionate grounds was finalized. It was agreed that the backlog of some 600 families should be offered resettlement in order of priority in accordance with the date of referral.

Since then, 212 cases representing 36.7% of the total backlog of 578 cases have been dealt with. This does not include single persons who the Select Committee agreed should be referred back to the recommending bodies for forming into groups of appropriate size for resettlement rooms.

Of the 36.7% of the backlog which has been dealt with, about one third have accepted resettlement accommodation. At this rate, the backlog will most probably be cleared in two to three months' time. It is expected that the exercise could be accelerated when more rooms become available in the new blocks in developing estates in April 1971.

MRS. ELLIOTT:-Mr. Chairman, could the Chairman of the Resettlement Management Select Committee explain why this backlog occurred?

MR. HU:-I should think, Mr. Chairman, because we did over- look this problem from the very beginning.

MRS. ELLIOTT:-Mr. Chairman, is it correct that we are now giving about 2,000 rooms per year on compassionate grounds and, if so, it is going to take 2 to 3 months to get rid of this backlog. Are we always going to have a backlog?