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must be appreciated firstly that the number of those re-accommodated represented a 50% increase over the previous year and secondly that there is always a lengthy time lag between the initial planning of a housing programme and its fulfilment. It should be noted that the figure of 100,000 per annum which was given some publicity was never intended to be more than an average figure for domestic accommodation to be erected over a number of years. It did not take fully into account the need to reserve up to about 1/7th of all accommodation for non-domestic purposes. I can assure Members that everything is being done to expedite the pace of construction. The Resettlement Department has received and is continuing to receive every possible assistance from the Public Works Department. Every month we have a joint progress meeting with the various branches of the Public Works Department and these meetings have served to iron out many snags. Resettlement consists largely of repetitive building and there has been virtually no delay on account of technical staff, even though all sorts of varied service and piling contracts are involved. Needless to say the master key to the problem is the availability of sites and Mr. WATSON was quite right to mention the need for satellite estates in the New Territories even though they may involve initially additional expense on travelling.
The question of land availability brings me on to a further point raised by Mr. BERNACCHI, who expressed himself unhappy over present clearance priorities. He considered that the clearance of land for auction sales and offices represented a questionable benefit to the community. He felt that street squatters were being left out in the cold. It is of course extremely difficult to give a general answer on this issue, as all sorts of individual considerations are involved. For instance, one of the big forthcoming clearances is for the Urban Services Department Headquarters in Kowloon which will consist mainly of offices. I hope that the Members of this Council, who have long agitated for a satisfactory headquarters in Kowloon, would not wish to raise any objection to this particular priority.
In the speeches of Mr. Ernest WONG and Mr. CHAN Shu-woon I detected a feeling that commercial enterprise should be brought into the sphere of cheap housing and resettlement whenever and wherever practicable, and it is certainly true that private enterprise frequently puts up buildings to greater heights—almost up to those envisaged by Mr. WATSON and consequently greater densities than Government.
There is also the question of clearance for industrial sites which are sold by public auction. Industrial development is clearly vital for maintaining employment as well as for the general economic good of the Colony and the department cannot regard clearances for this type of development as being of secondary importance.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Street squatters represent a particular problem in that many of them have overflowed from overcrowded tenements. Many prefer to live in close proximity to their work and, for the most part, they have not welcomed opportunities for resites—admittedly some distance away—when offered by the department in certain circumstances, even though they received assistance in the form of transportation and some building materials. It is also difficult to differentiate between pavement squatters and street sleepers in that most of them live under verandahs and their so-called squatter huts are little more than canvas shelters, which can be taken down and re-erected in a matter of minutes.
As regards the problem in general, I can say little more than that priorities are being kept continually under review in the Resettlement & Clearance (Policy) Select Committee and that the claims of particular groups are carefully weighed and only not acceded to if there are good reasons.
Mr. WATSON has re-affirmed his view that, in the circumstances prevailing in Hong Kong, the quantity of new housing is more important than the quality but Mr. CHEONG-LEEN does not entirely agree with him and has welcomed the improvements which will come with the new Mark III type of resettlement blocks. Plans are not quite finalized but briefly the intention is to use a central access corridor and construct individual verandahs which will be really private. Furthermore, the verandah will not be counted as living space so that the density will in fact be rather lower. The existing blocks have served their purpose over a very difficult period. I am sure that everyone will agree that new standards and improved plans should be introduced where possible. The new designs reflect great credit on the Public Works Department Architectural staff.
As regards sanitation in the Estates, the department is doing all it can to maintain the highest possible standards. I cannot agree that the state of sanitation is as horrible as depicted by Dr. P. F. Woo but a certain amount of conversion from fresh water to sea water flushing is taking place with a view to improvement and it may be that Dr. Woo inspected a building in the process of changeover. The staff are currently undertaking a detailed review with a view to furnishing added justification for staff increases, and the report when ready will be discussed in the Select Committee.
The control and sanitation problems in connexion with hawkers in the Estates are growing and the extension of the Hawker Control Force to the Estates would be welcomed.
Mr. CHEONG-LEEN wishes to encourage handicrafts and small industries in the Estates and I agree with him that this is desirable provided always that they are not hazardous and also that they cause
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Page 42 of 150
68
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
must be appreciated firstly that the number of those re-accommodated represented a 50% increase over the previous year and secondly that there is always a lengthy time lag between the initial planning of a housing programme and its fulfilment. It should be noted that the figure of 100,000 per annum which was given some publicity was never intended to be more than an average figure for domestic accommodation to be erected over a number of years. It did not take fully into account the need to reserve up to about 1/7th of all accommodation for non- domestic purposes. I can assure Members that everything is being done to expedite the pace of construction. The Resettlement Department has received and is continuing to receive every possible assistance from the Public Works Department. Every month we have a joint progress meeting with the various branches of the Public Works Department and these meetings have served to iron out many snags. Resettlement consists largely of repetitive building and there has been virtually no delay on account of technical staff, even though all sorts of varied service and piling contracts are involved. Needless to say the master key to the problem is the availability of sites and Mr. WATSON was quite right to mention the need for satellite estates in the New Territories even though they may involve initially additional expense on travelling.
The question of land availability brings me on to a further point raised by Mr. BERNACCHI, who expressed himself unhappy over present clearance priorities. He considered that the clearance of land for auction sales and offices represented a questionable benefit to the community. He felt that street squatters were being left out in the cold. It is of course extremely difficult to give a general answer on this issue, as all sorts of individual considerations are involved. For instance, one of the big forthcoming clearances is for the Urban Services Department Headquarters in Kowloon which will consist mainly of offices. I hope that the Members of this Council, who have long agitated for a satis- factory headquarters in Kowloon, would not wish to raise any objection to this particular priority.
In the speeches of Mr. Ernest WONG and Mr. CHAN Shu-woon I detected a feeling that commercial enterprise should be brought into the sphere of cheap housing and resettlement whenever and wherever practicable, and it is certainly true that private enterprise frequently puts up buildings to greater heights-almost up to those envisaged by Mr. WATSON and consequently greater densities than Government.
There is also the question of clearance for industrial sites which are sold by public auction. Industrial development is clearly vital for maintaining employment as well as for the general economic good of the Colony and the department cannot regard clearances for this type of development as being of secondary importance.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
69
Street squatters represent a particular problem in that many of them have overflowed from overcrowded tenements. Many prefer to live in close proximity to their work and, for the most part, they have not welcomed opportunities for resites-admittedly some distance away— when offered by the department in certain circumstances, even though they received assistance in the form of transportation and some building materials. It is also difficult to differentiate between pavement squatters and street sleepers in that most of them live under verandahs and their so-called squatter huts are little more than canvas shelters, which can be taken down and re-erected in a matter of minutes.
As regards the problem in general, I can say little more than that priorities are being kept continually under review in the Resettlement & Clearance (Policy) Select Committee and that the claims of particular groups are carefully weighed and only not acceded to if there are good
reasons.
Mr. WATSON has re-affirmed his view that, in the circumstances prevailing in Hong Kong, the quantity of new housing is more important than the quality but Mr. CHEONG-LEEN does not entirely agree with him and has welcomed the improvements which will come with the new Mark III type of resettlement blocks. Plans are not quite finalized but briefly the intention is to use a central access corridor and construct individual verandahs which will be really private. Furthermore, the verandah will not be counted as living space so that the density will in fact be rather lower. The existing blocks have served their purpose over a very difficult period. I am sure that everyone will agree that new standards and improved plans should be introduced where possible. The new designs reflect great credit on the Public Works Department Architectural staff.
As regards sanitation in the Estates, the department is doing all it can to maintain the highest possible standards. I cannot agree that the state of sanitation is as horrible as depicted by Dr. P. F. Woo but a certain amount of conversion from fresh water to sea water flushing is taking place with a view to improvement and it may be that Dr. Woo inspected a building in the process of changeover. The staff are currently undertaking a detailed review with a view to furnishing added justification for staff increases, and the report when ready will be discussed in the Select Committee.
The control and sanitation problems in connexion with hawkers in the Estates are growing and the extension of the Hawker Control Force to the Estates would be welcomed.
Mr. CHEONG-LEEN wishes to encourage handicrafts and small industries in the Estates and I agree with him that this is desirable provided always that they are not hazardous and also that they cause
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