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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

THE COMMISSIONER For ResetTLEMENT replied as follows:

"The numbers of reported births, deaths and cases of com- municable diseases in the resettlement estates are as follows for the year ending July, 1959:—

Births -4,803

Deaths 211

Communicable Diseases-

Cerebro-spinal Meningitis

1

Diphtheria

190

Amoebic Dysentery

17

Bacillary Dysentery

86

Poliomyelitis

4

Tetanus

3

Typhoid

74"

DR. WOO:-May I ask a supplementary question? Would the Commissioner next time give us the figures how many of these deaths are children and how many died during the first year of life.

CHAIRMAN:-I don't think you asked for those figures in the first place, Dr. Woo.

MR. SALES: May I ask a supplementary question? Is it possible that the Commissioner may have misunderstood Dr. Woo when he framed that question? I think the acceptation of the term, vital statistics, has been misconstrued in this instance. (Laughter). Are you prepared to put that to the Commissioner?

CHAIRMAN:-No.

MR. SALES: That is an admissible question. Vital statistics were asked for.

CHAIRMAN:-I am too conscious of my own vital statistics!

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:--Is Mr. Sales bearing in mind that there is to be a beauty contest?

MR. SALES: Is Mr. Cheong-Leen a judge, perchance?

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-I have not heard anything to that effect, Mr. Chairman.

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

"The absence of street lighting along the Main Street to Mahang Village in Stanley has caused great inconvenience to the residents especially to those in Mahang Village where it has been estimated one-fifth of the population

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

121

in Stanley reside. Would the Chairman recommend to the Urban Amenities Select Committee that lighting be installed in this area?"

THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:

"In accordance with the agreed policy on street-lighting, I shall be pleased to suggest to Stanley Kai Fong Associa- tion that they should forward to the Honourable Director of Public Works any recommendation they may have con- cerning street-lighting along the main street to Mahang Village."

DR. A. M. S. BELL asked the following question:

"(a) Is the Commissioner for Resettlement aware that many of those people, who were rendered homeless as a result of the house collapses and condemnations in Pitt Street, and who were allocated small portions of the centre of Arthur Street for temporary dwelling in shacks, but who, owing to the smallness of that space and the wretched structures of these shacks, found temporary shelter with friends during the inclement weather and who in common with all the others received Social Welfare relief and compensation, are not now registered for Resettlement? Will the Commissioner please state why?

(b) Is the Commissioner further aware, that because these people have not been given white cards for Resettlement, they are now being asked to move from their temporary shacks in Arthur Street?”

THE COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT replied as follows:

"The residents of tenements in Pitt Street that collapsed or were condemned have been paid compensation by the landlord. These premises were the subject of an applica- tion for exemption made to the Tenancy Tribunal. Before the proceedings were completed, the buildings collapsed or were condemned; but before this the Tribunal had made recommendations as to the rates at which com- pensation should be paid to the tenants and the com- pensation paid by the landlord was in fact at these rates. As this compensation is designed to enable the persons concerned to find alternative accommodation, it has been decided that those who received this compensation should not be regarded as eligible for resettlement.

2.

Some of the people concerned who had taken shelter on the streets before the landlord paid compensation were allocated temporary sites. The remainder, who had