218
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
The number of recognized pavement squatters who have been resettled is very small, only 12 persons from 4 huts in Hong Kong but 76 huts there with a population of 460 have been resited as a result of development of adjacent areas. No pavement squatters in Kowloon were resettled but 120 huts containing 713 persons were cleared by the offer of resites during the year.
The latest figure for tolerated pavement huts is 1,304 which represents a decrease on last year as no new huts have been authorized. The reduction from 1,504 to 1,304 huts over a 12 month period represents an improvement of 13%. The population decrease will be a rather smaller percentage due to expansion in the size of families.
The issue is continually being reviewed and I will include it on the Agenda for the next Policy Select Committee Meeting.
MR. FUNG:--Mr. Chairman, does it mean that the number of persistent offenders is ever-increasing?
COMMISSIONER for Resettlement:--I am afraid I have no figures for the number of persistent squatters.
MR. FUNG: I am glad that this question is going to be referred to the Policy Select Committee and I do hope that it will be analysed thoroughly.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:--Mr. Chairman, can the Commissioner enlighten me as to why offenders in Kowloon are more persistent and obstructive than those in Hong Kong? (Laughter).
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:--I am afraid I am unable to enlighten you, Mr. Cheong-Leen.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:--What about Mr. Sales, Mr. Chairman? (Laughter).
MR. SALES: I would be delighted. It is perhaps due to the fact that people in Kowloon are suppressed far more than they are in Hong Kong. Is it possible, Mr. Chairman, that the Commissioner for Resettlement is more tolerant on the Island than he is in Kowloon?
MR. BERNACCHI:--On the contrary, I think.
MR. SALES:--May I suggest, Mr. Chairman, that this matter be referred to Mr. CHEONG-LEEN to take up with the Civil Rights Association (of which, I believe, he is the Chairman)--the question of the suppression of the rights of squatters in Kowloon? (Laughter).
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
219
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:--For the information of Mr. Sales, there is no such organization as the Civil Rights Association in Hong Kong. (Laughter).
MR. A. de O. SALES asked the following question:-
Will the Chairman please make a progress report on the Kowloon Tsai Park and Swimming Pool project?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:-
Construction of the swimming pool, its ancillary buildings, access road and car park is in the hands of private architects. Work on these has proceeded more slowly than expected, and the General Contractors have now informed the architects that they will be unable to complete the work before the end of April 1963. It had been hoped that work on the swimming pool would be completed by early March, and I wish Members to know that this further delay is a matter of regret and concern to the architects, the Director of Public Works and myself. At the same time I can assure Members that everything possible is being done to ensure that the work is completed, not only as quickly as possible, but also to the high standard required for such an important project.
As Members already know, it was necessary to postpone most of the work on the park (as distinct from the swimming pool) because the tender figures exceeded considerably the sum of money available. With the funds available it has been possible to complete the formation, filling and turfing of 12 acres out of a total of 30 acres. Funds have also been set aside for the planting of trees and flowering shrubs around the swimming pool: this work will be carried out in the 1963 spring planting season.
Recently tenders were called for the next phase of work on the park, which is due to include park changing rooms, lavatories, workshops, fencing, water supply, drainage, paths and amenity lighting. The results of these tenders are not yet known.
To complete the park it has been the Council's intention to provide a variety of recreational facilities. In furtherance
Page 117 of 150
+ 150
218
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
The number of recognized pavement squatters who have been resettled is very small, only 12 persons from 4 huts in Hong Kong but 76 huts there with a population of 460 have been resited as a result of development of adjacent areas. No pavement squatters in Kowloon were resettled but 120 huts containing 713 persons were cleared by the offer of resites during the year.
The latest figure for tolerated pavement huts is 1,304 which represents a decrease on last year as no new huts have been authorized. The reduction from 1,504 to 1,304 huts over a 12 month period represents an improvement of 13%. The population decrease will be a rather smaller percentage due to expansion in the size of families.
The issue is continually being reviewed and I will include it on the Agenda for the next Policy Select Committee Meeting.
MR. FUNG:--Mr. Chairman, does it mean that the number of per- sistent offenders is ever-increasing?
COMMISSIONER for ResettlemENT:-I am afraid I have no figures for the number of persistent squatters.
MR. FUNG: I am glad that this question is going to be referred to the Policy Select Committee and I do hope that it will be analysed thoroughly.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, can the Commissioner en- lighten me as to why offenders in Kowloon are more persistent and obstructive than those in Hong Kong? (Laughter).
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-I am afraid I am unable to enlighten you, Mr. Cheong-Leen.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN : -What about Mr. Sales, Mr. Chairman? (Laughter).
MR. SALES: I would be delighted. It is perhaps due to the fact that people in Kowloon are suppressed far more than they are in Hong Kong. Is it possible, Mr. Chairman, that the Commissioner for Reset- tlement is more tolerant on the Island than he is in Kowloon?
MR. BERNACCHI:-On the contrary, I think.
MR. SALES: -May I suggest, Mr. Chairman, that this matter be referred to Mr. CHEONG-LEEN to take up with the Civil Rights Associa- tion (of which, I believe, he is the Chairman)-the question of the suppression of the rights of squatters in Kowloon? (Laughter).
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
219
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:--For the information of Mr. Sales, there is no such organization as the Civil Rights Association in Hong Kong. (Laughter).
MR. A. de O. SALES asked the following question :-
Will the Chairman please make a progress report on the
Kowloon Tsai Park and Swimming Pool project?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:-
Construction of the swimming pool, its ancillary buildings, access road and car park is in the hands of private archi- tects. Work on these has proceeded more slowly than expected, and the General Contractors have now informed the architects that they will be unable to complete the work before the end of April 1963. It had been hoped that work on the swimming pool would be completed by early March, and I wish Members to know that this further delay is a matter of regret and concern to the architects, the Director of Public Works and myself. At the same time I can assure Members that everything possible is being done to ensure that the work is completed, not only as quickly as possible, but also to the high standard re- quired for such an important project.
As Members already know, it was necessary to postpone most of the work on the park (as distinct from the swimming pool) because the tender figures exceeded considerably the sum of money available. With the funds available it has been possible to complete the formation, filling and turfing of 12 acres out of a total of 30 acres. Funds have also been set aside for the planting of trees and flowering shrubs around the swimming pool: this work will be carried out in the 1963 spring planting season.
Recently tenders were called for the next phase of work on the park, which is due to include park changing rooms, lavatories, workshops, fencing, water supply, drainage, paths and amenity lighting. The results of these tenders are not yet known.
To complete the park it has been the Council's intention to provide a variety of recreational facilities. In furtherance
Page 117 of 150
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