1959 — Page 67

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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

CHAIRMAN:-I think this is an expression of opinion.

MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:

"(a) Will the Commissioner for Resettlement please advise how many children of school age living in resettlement estates and areas are receiving primary and secondary education?

(b) Does the Commissioner know how many children of school age in these estates and areas are not in a primary or secondary school?"

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THE COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT replied as follows:

"(a) The Resettlement Department does not keep detailed statistics of the number of settlers' children that attend school. However, it is known that just over 16,000 children from the estates attend rooftop schools and primary schools in the immediate vicinity, and it is estimated that approximately 7,700 children attend primary schools in the cottage areas. This total is approximately two-fifths of the total number of children of primary school age; it does not include children attend- ing other schools in the urban areas and the actual total is certainly higher.

(b) I regret that I have no reliable statistics of the number

of settlers' children attending secondary schools."

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Would the Commissioner for Resettlement be prepared to carry out a detailed survey or a sample survey of the number of children who are not attending school in the resettlement areas and estates?

THE COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT : I should be prepared to consider it but it is somewhat of a large undertaking which will need careful planning.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-One further supplementary. Has the Com- missioner recently inquired from the Director of Education whether it is hoped that by 1961 all children of school age in resettlement areas and estates will be given some schooling? I understand that that year is the anticipated year when there will be some form of universal primary education in Hong Kong.

CHAIRMAN: --I am afraid we cannot-

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-I asked whether this question has been put by the Commissioner recently. Has it been put or not?

CHAIRMAN:-No.

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MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Would it be worthwhile for that question to be put since the Commissioner for Resettlement is very much interested.

CHAIRMAN: May this question be placed on the agenda of the next Select Committee.

MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:-

"I understand there will be a 25-foot wide Waterfront Prom- enade when the Central Reclamation project is com- pleted; if this is so, will the Chairman advise whether any request has been made to Government to extend this promenade along the Naval Dockyard waterfront after the Dockyard is resumed by Government."

THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:-

"No such request has been made to Government but in any case the question will not arise as the proposed road linking the Central district with Gloucester Road cannot be built along the waterfront (the Navy are retaining the existing Dockyard waterfront and the new road will be built some distance back from it)."

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-May I ask whether the Navy intends to retain the entire waterfront area between Queen's Road—

CHAIRMAN: I am afraid I neither know nor am I in a position

to ask.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Is that what is meant in the reply?

CHAIRMAN:-I think they are going to retain a portion of it. I cannot say how much. I regret I cannot discuss this question.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Would the Chairman refer to the Amenities Select Committee the possibility of applying to Government for parks or playground for that particular portion between the new Queen's Pier and Police Headquarters?

CHAIRMAN:-I will certainly put it down on the agenda for the next meeting which is on Friday.

DR. P. F. Woo asked the following question:-

"Does the Resettlement Department keep any vital statistics of the population in the estates so as to record the general health of the people there? If it does can the Commis- sioner give us the figures? Otherwise, is it possible for these statistics to be kept?"

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