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go out too far; some go out in rough weather, ignoring the red or blue flag; some fail to keep a close eye on their children. Too often children are allowed to bathe unaccompanied by adults.
At the three major beaches—Repulse Bay, Shek O and Lai Chi Kok—a Minuteman Resuscitator is kept for revival of rescued persons. At other beaches, a Riley rocking stretcher serves the same purpose. All beaches have telephones installed close to the office. Beach staff are trained in life saving and in resuscitation. The department does its best to reduce to a minimum the danger of drowning, but it cannot compel persons to take full precautions. I am glad to see that the Hong Kong Life Guard Club has recently stressed the dangers of bathing and has requested the public to exercise more caution. It would assist if school teachers would take up the same theme with their pupils.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- Mr. Chairman, would you enlighten me as to whether the department has considered the preparation and issue of leaflets on swimming safety to schools or other organizations?
CHAIRMAN:- Not as far as I know, Sir.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- May I suggest that it be looked into? I would be happy to provide material on the subject.
CHAIRMAN: I would be glad to look into the matter.
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, I am very impressed with Mr. CHEONG-LEEN's offer.
MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:-
(a) Will the Commissioner for Resettlement advise how many persons were resettled during the three month period 1st April-30th June, 1962?
(b) How many persons are expected to be resettled during the 1st July-30th September, 1962, quarter?
(c) At the present rate of progress, does the Commissioner anticipate that the Urban Council will arrive at the projected 100,000 mark for the fiscal year which commenced 1st April, 1962, and ends 31st March, 1963?
THE COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT replied as follows:-
This question which is in three parts, concerns the rate of progress of resettlement. As the third part of the question is more the concern of my friend, the Director of Public Works, I will ask him to reply to it.
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107
In reply to the first part of the question, 21,651 persons were cleared and resettled in the three month period from the 1st April, 1962, to 30th June, 1962.
On the second part of the question, it is expected that during the quarter 1st July, 1962, to 30th September, 1962, approximately 12,000 people will be cleared and resettled. The reduced rate is due to a fall off in the number of blocks being completed during the quarter but this will be more than made up during the second half of the fiscal year.
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS:- Mr. Chairman, in reply to the third part of the question, which concerns the rate of progress on resettlement blocks, it is estimated that at least 39 blocks will be completed by the Public Works Department during the year 1st April, 1962, to 31st March, 1963. These blocks will have a population potential of over 100,000 persons, but after allowance is made for the allocation of rooms for shops, Welfare purposes and schools, etc. the figure will be reduced to 89,460. These figures are, of course, subject to the vagaries of the weather which can have a significant effect on the rate of construction. The figures may well be considerably improved upon by the completion of a further 6 blocks with a net population of 17,000 persons; on the other hand prolonged spell of bad weather could result in a slight reduction. It will be appreciated that blocks completed at the end of a financial year cannot, in some cases, be filled until the early part of the following year; but the number of blocks unfilled at the end of any one year may be taken roughly to balance those carried over from the previous year.
Members are again reminded that the Public Works Department target of 500,000 over five years is an overall target and does not necessarily imply that we shall manage to provide 100,000 places each year. At the present moment work is in hand, either on building construction or site formation at 12 sites with a population potential (after making reasonable allowance for the allocation of rooms for shops, schools and welfare purposes) of 385,000. Planning is in hand on a further 7 estates with a population potential of 175,000 and site formation is expected to start on 6 of these 7 estates during the current financial year.
In short, this year work should be in hand on 18 Estates having a population potential of 525,000 people.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- Mr. Chairman, may I ask a supplementary question, in clarification, of the Honourable Director of Public Works? In the last paragraph of the reply, it is stated that "work should be
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go out too far; some go out in rough weather, ignoring the red or blue flag; some fail to keep a close eye on their children. Too often children are allowed to bathe un- accompanied by adults.
At the three major beaches-Repulse Bay, Shek O and Lai Chi Kok- a Minuteman Resuscitator is kept for revival of rescued persons. At other beaches, a Riley rocking stretcher serves the same purpose. All beaches have tele- phones installed close to the office. Beach staff are trained in life saving and in resuscitation. The department does its best to reduce to a minimum the danger of drowning, but it cannot compel persons to take full precautions. I am glad to see that the Hong Kong Life Guard Club has recently stressed the dangers of bathing and has requested the public to exercise more caution. It would assist if school teachers would take up the same theme with their pupils.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, would you enlighten me as to whether the department has considered the preparation and issue of leaflets on swimming safety to schools or other organizations?
CHAIRMAN:-Not as far as I know, Sir.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- May I suggest that it be looked into? I would be happy to provide material on the subject.
CHAIRMAN: I would be glad to look into the matter.
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, I am very impressed with Mr. CHEONG- LEEN's offer.
MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:-
(a) Will the Commissioner for Resettlement advise how many persons were resettled during the three month period 1st April 30th June, 1962?
(b) How many persons are expected to be resettled during
the 1st July-30th September, 1962, quarter?
(c) At the present rate of progress, does the Commissioner anticipate that the Urban Council will arrive at the pro- jected 100,000 mark for the fiscal year which commenced 1st April, 1962, and ends 31st March, 1963?
THE COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT replied as follows:-
This question which is in three parts, concerns the rate of progress of resettlement. As the third part of the question is more the concern of my friend, the Director of Public Works, I will ask him to reply to it.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
107
In reply to the first part of the question, 21,651 persons were cleared and resettled in the three month period from the 1st April, 1962, to 30th June, 1962.
On the second part of the question, it is expected that during the quarter 1st July, 1962, to 30th September, 1962, approximately 12,000 people will be cleared and resettled. The reduced rate is due to a fall off in the number of blocks being completed during the quarter but this will be more than made up during the second half of the fiscal
year.
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS:-Mr. Chairman, in reply to the third part of the question, which concerns the rate of progress on resettlement blocks, it is estimated that at least 39 blocks will be com- pleted by the Public Works Department during the year 1st April, 1962, to 31st March, 1963. These blocks will have a population potential of over 100,000 persons, but after allowance is made for the allocation of rooms for shops, Welfare purposes and schools, etc. the figure will be reduced to 89,460. These figures are, of course, subject to the vagaries of the weather which can have a significant effect on the rate of con- struction. The figures may well be considerably improved upon by the completion of a further 6 blocks with a net population of 17,000 persons; on the other hand prolonged spell of bad weather could result in a slight reduction. It will be appreciated that blocks com- pleted at the end of a financial year cannot, in some cases, be filled until the early part of the following year; but the number of blocks unfilled at the end of any one year may be taken roughly to balance those carried over from the previous year.
Members are again reminded that the Public Works Department target of 500,000 over five years is an overall target and does not necessarily imply that we shall manage to provide 100,000 places each year. At the present moment work is in hand, either on building con- struction or site formation at 12 sites with a population potential (after making reasonable allowance for the allocation of rooms for shops, schools and welfare purposes) of 385,000. Planning is in hand on a further 7 estates with a population potential of 175,000 and site forma- tion is expected to start on 6 of these 7 estates during the current financial year.
In short, this year work should be in hand on 18 Estates having a population potential of 525,000 people.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, may I ask a supplementary question, in clarification, of the Honourable Director of Public Works? In the last paragraph of the reply, it is stated that "work should be
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