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maximum improvement. Should our recommendations be accepted, may I appeal to you, Sir, to discuss with the heads of the other departments ways in which inter-departmental consultations can be speeded up and delays reduced to the minimum.
Two of our new colleagues, Mr. F. S. Li and Mr. H. C. FUNG have been impressed by the urgent need to deal with the squatters, particularly those living in shacks in the streets, on rooftops, and in backyards. They are symptoms of the extreme overcrowding in the Colony which can only be relieved by a vast expansion in our rehousing programme.
Last year I suggested that at the rate we were going, it might take 20 years to solve the squatter problem. In his reply, the Commissioner for Resettlement thought I had painted too gloomy a picture and said that there had in fact been more progress than might appear. At that time it was thought that there were about 350,000 squatters still to be resettled, but a recent survey reveals that there are more likely to be about 580,000, so that if we are making progress, we are making progress rapidly backwards. The official explanation is that the original estimates must have been wrong, but my own view is that part of the increase is due to the high birthrate, illegal immigration, and the movement into squatter huts and areas of those forced out of unbearably crowded tenements. I believe that if we confine our resettlement policy only to squatters and ignore the basic cause, which is the gross overcrowding in normal housing, the problem will never be solved. The efforts of the department deserve full credit, but there is no room for complacency, and greater efforts will be needed in the future.
Two years ago I suggested that the scope of the department be extended to include those who were not squatters but whose housing conditions were equally bad. Government has now accepted that policy in principle, and I urge it to pursue its new policy vigorously.
In saying this I am well aware of the difficulties, one of the chief ones being the lack of suitable sites. There is a tendency to believe that the creation of satellite towns in the New Territories will provide the complete answer. Admittedly, they will provide land for new industry, and for the homes of those engaged in it. But industrial expansion will be matched by an increase in banking, shipping, insurance, import and export firms, most of them in the central business districts. Every new textile mill is likely to need an office in town. Tourism, on which we place such high hopes for the future, will encourage more shops, more hotels, and more restaurants, all, again, in the central areas of Hong Kong and Kowloon. Those employed in them will wish to live as close to those centres as they can, to avoid the time and cost of extensive travelling. For them, the new towns at Kwun Tong, Tsuen Wan, Sha Tin, Tai Po and Castle Peak will be of little use as means of solving their housing problems. A certain amount of relief may be obtained by rebuilding the underdeveloped parts of Hong Kong and Kowloon, but what is required is a broad programme of slum clearance and planned development.
All this has, of course, been said before—what has not been said is how it can be achieved. The year before last I suggested that a start should be made by reclaiming two large areas, one on either side of the harbour, to be used as decanting centres. The one I proposed in Kowloon was the Yau Ma Tei typhoon anchorage. Government has now announced that it is going to proceed with this reclamation and I again ask that it be used as the start of a slum clearance project for Kowloon. For Hong Kong there was no such obvious and easy solution. My suggestion was to reclaim the Kellett Bank, north of Green Island, a large area of shallow water which could eventually provide enough land to house a million people. If, for any reason, this does not prove acceptable, I am afraid that the slums of West Point, Kennedy Town and the Central District will be with us for a very long time to come.
Before sitting down I would like to pay my tribute to the staff of the Urban Services Department. During the past six months, as a delegated member, I have inquired rather deeply into policies and procedures, and my questions have meant a certain amount of extra work. These inquiries have always been answered willingly and courteously, and I take this opportunity to express my thanks.
Mr. Chairman, I have pleasure in supporting the motion.
MR. WILFRED S. B. WONG:- Mr. Chairman, thank you for your words of welcome. In a maiden speech from the newest of your members, I am tempted to indulge in a few pleasantries and settle down comfortably in my chair. I would not, however, be doing my duty if I did not speak out on what I am thinking on matters relating to the Urban Council even though time has not permitted me to make a thorough study.
In a cursory reading of the Council's Hansard I was much impressed with the tremendous amount of work done by the members of the Council and the Select Committees. Your statement of progress and policy is very comprehensive and I shall refrain from saying anything that is obvious. There are a few points, however, I would like to bring up and if they are out of line, I am sure you, Sir, and the Senior members of the Council will correct me.
In the first place I would like to say that I appreciate this appointment as an opportunity for service. The scope of the Urban Council and Urban Services is very wide and indeed the Urban Services Department is the largest department of the Government in terms of personnel. It is also the only department of Government with a Council directly
1
1
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
37
little use as means of solving their housing problems. A certain amount of relief may be obtained by rebuilding the underdeveloped parts of Hong Kong and Kowloon, but what is required is a broad programme of slum clearance and planned development.
Page 27 of 118
...
...
Page 27 of 118
Page 26 of 118
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
maximum improvement. Should our recommendations be accepted, may I appeal to you, Sir, to discuss with the heads of the other depart- ments ways in which inter-departmental consultations can be speeded up and delays reduced to the minimum.
Two of our new colleagues, Mr. F. S. Li and Mr. H. C. FUNG have been impressed by the urgent need to deal with the squatters, particularly those living in shacks in the streets, on rooftops, and in backyards. They are symptoms of the extreme overcrowding in the Colony which can only be relieved by a vast expansion in our rehousing programme.
Last year I suggested that at the rate we were going, it might take 20 years to solve the squatter problem. In his reply, the Commissioner for Resettlement thought I had painted too gloomy a picture and said that there had in fact been more progress than might appear. At that time it was thought that there were about 350,000 squatters still to be resettled, but a recent survey reveals that there are more likely to be about 580,000, so that if we are making progress, we are making progress rapidly backwards. The official explanation is that the original estimates must have been wrong, but my own view is that part of the increase is due to the high birthrate, illegal immigration, and the move- ment into squatter huts and areas of those forced out of unbearably crowded tenements. I believe that if we confine our resettlement policy only to squatters and ignore the basic cause, which is the gross over- crowding in normal housing, the problem will never be solved. The efforts of the department deserve full credit, but there is no room for complacency, and greater efforts will be needed in the future.
Two years ago I suggested that the scope of the department be extended to include those who were not squatters but whose housing conditions were equally bad. Government has now accepted that policy in principle, and I urge it to pursue its new policy vigorously.
In saying this I am well aware of the difficulties, one of the chief ones being the lack of suitable sites. There is a tendency to believe that the creation of satellite towns in the New Territories will provide the complete answer. Admittedly, they will provide land for new industry, and for the homes of those engaged in it. But industrial expansion will be matched by an increase in banking, shipping, insur- ance, import and export firms, most of them in the central business districts. Every new textile mill is likely to need an office in town. Tourism, on which we place such high hopes for the future, will encourage more shops, more hotels, and more restaurants, all, again, in the central areas of Hong Kong and Kowloon. Those employed in them will wish to live as close to those centres as they can, to avoid the time and cost of extensive travelling. For them, the new towns at Kwun Tong, Tsuen Wan, Sha Tin, Tai Po and Castle Peak will be of
1
1
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
37
little use as means of solving their housing problems. A certain amount of relief may be obtained by rebuilding the underdeveloped parts of Hong Kong and Kowloon, but what is required is a broad programme of slum clearance and planned development.
All this has, of course, been said before-what has not been said is how it can be achieved. The year before last I suggested that a start should be made by reclaiming two large areas, one on either side of the harbour, to be used as decanting centres. The one I proposed in Kowloon was the Yau Ma Tei typhoon anchorage. Government has now announced that it is going to proceed with this reclamation and I again ask that it be used as the start of a slum clearance project for Kowloon. For Hong Kong there was no such obvious and easy solution. My suggestion was to reclaim the Kellett Bank, north of Green Island, a large area of shallow water which could eventually provide enough land to house a million people. If, for any reason, this does not prove acceptable, I am afraid that the slums of West Point, Kennedy Town and the Central District will be with us for a very long time to come.
Before sitting down I would like to pay my tribute to the staff of the Urban Services Department. During the past six months, as a delegated member, I have inquired rather deeply into policies and procedures, and my questions have meant a certain amount of extra work. These inquiries have always been answered willingly and cour- teously, and I take this opportunity to express my thanks.
Mr. Chairman, I have pleasure in supporting the motion.
MR. WILFRED S. B. WONG:-Mr. Chairman, thank you for your words of welcome. In a maiden speech from the newest of your members, I am tempted to indulge in a few pleasantries and settle down comfortably in my chair. I would not, however, be doing my duty if I did not speak out on what I am thinking on matters relating to the Urban Council even though time has not permitted me to make a thorough study.
In a cursory reading of the Councils' Hansard I was much impressed with the tremendous amount of work done by the members of the Council and the Select Committees. Your statement of progress and policy is very comprehensive and I shall refrain from saying any- thing that is obvious. There are a few points, however, I would like to bring up and if they are out of line, I am sure you, Sir, and the Senior members of the Council will correct me.
In the first place I would like to say that I appreciate this appoint- ment as an opportunity for service. The scope of the Urban Council and Urban Services is very wide and indeed the Urban Services Depart- ment is the largest department of the Government in terms of personnel. It is also the only department of Government with a Council directly
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