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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:-

Tenders for the construction of the Park, as distinct from the Swimming Pool, are to be called on 9th November for return on 30th November. It is expected that a contract will be signed early in December for completion in five to six months. In other words, the first stage of the Park should be opened to the public during June 1963.

MR. SALES:- Mr. Chairman, what assurance can you give to this Council that the same experience will not result from the contract being let perhaps to the same contractor?

CHAIRMAN: Sir, I cannot say whether the contract will be let to the same contractor. Perhaps my friend, the Director of Public Works, will say something about that, but I would like to point out that fortunately this is, on the face of it, not a very complicated proceeding. The first stage of construction consists of turfing, which is already being carried out by the Urban Services Department; fencing; provision of paths and lighting, which will be the concern of non-Government agencies; and the provision of trees, plants, and benches, which will again be the concern of the Urban Services Department. I hope that nothing will go wrong. It seems to be a quite simple operation.

MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, is this Council assured by its Chairman that the Director of the Urban Services Department will promise that the Urban Services Department will also not fall behind schedule?

CHAIRMAN: I can assure you that we are alert to the need to proceed with speed in this matter.

MR. SALES: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The next question is an important one. What safeguards are taken by Government through the competent department to ensure that contractors and other people who fall down on jobs which are carried out for the public and at public expense are not still retained on their contractors' list?

CHAIRMAN: Sir, I must point out that this question is out of order, as you are introducing a new matter.

MR. SALES: It is in connection with the Kowloon Tsai Park and the Kowloon Tsai Swimming Pool.

CHAIRMAN: Sir, may I say with respect that I think that notice should be given of the question.

MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, I respect your wish.

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

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

During the October meeting of this Council, the Chairman kindly agreed to refer to Government the following parts of a question I asked on overcrowding:

(a) Will the Chairman inquire whether, in order to have a long-term solution to overcrowding in Hong Kong, Government is preparing or would be prepared to draw up a realistic Ten Year Housing Development Programme, covering accommodation to be financed both by private capital and by Government?

(b) Will the Chairman also inquire from Government what is being done or will be done soon to solve the problem of overcrowding among white-collar families, by enabling them to purchase their own flats over at least a ten-year period with the aid of a low-interest loan either from Government or other sources indicated by Government?

Will the Chairman please advise what is Government's reply?

THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:-

I have received the following reply from Government:-

"Mr. H. CHEONG-LEEN has asked whether Government is preparing or would be prepared to draw up a realistic 10-year housing development programme to help in a long-term solution to the overcrowding problem. In the reply you gave to a question asked by Mr. H. CHEONG-LEEN at the Urban Council meeting on 3rd July, 1962, you indicated that Government already has a continuing housing programme. It is in fact also a realistic programme designed to house about 100,000 persons a year in resettlement estates and some 20,000 persons a year in low-cost housing estates, as well as to finance the Housing Society, the Settlers Housing Corporation, the Civil Servants Housing Co-operatives, and the Housing Authority in their housing schemes. Government has already indicated to the Housing Authority that its intention is to increase its loan to the Authority over the next 8 years by a further $80 million so that the Authority may plan, at least, a $20 million annual housing expansion from 1963 to 1971. In the reply you gave to a further question asked by Mr. H. CHEONG-LEEN at the Urban Council meeting on 2nd October, 1962, you also indicated that Government intends to maintain the impetus of its

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