1963 — Page 91

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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

(c) Will the Commissioner confirm that as far as the Resettlement Department is concerned the name of "No. 7 Cemetery" has been officially changed to the "Jordan Valley Resite Area" and can an assurance be given that this will be used consistently in all official statements and releases to the press?

THE COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT replied as follows:

This question concerns a squatter control operation against persistent illegal squatters who occupied part of the south side of Diamond Hill. This area, part of which is on quarry permit, is steep, rocky, and dangerous and quite unsuitable for a resite area. Apart from a small nucleus of 11 families who had been in the area for a maximum of about 8 months, and whose structures were repeatedly demolished in accordance with Government's normal policy of preventing illegal occupation of land, the vast majority were very recent arrivals on the site.

As regards the first part of your question, 74 of the families have been allocated resites in an extension to the existing Jordan Valley B Resite Area on the Kai Tak side nearer to the Clearwater Bay Road. 129 other claims are being individually investigated. This is not a new resite area as it has been used as such since 1959 and is not an unreasonable distance from the urban area.

As regards the second part, Government is at present engaged in the process of improving existing water supplies. Sanitation, including the provision of latrines, has been arranged by the Urban Services Department and is considered to be quite satisfactory.

As regards the third part, this area is normally referred to as Jordan Valley Sections A and B in all official correspondence.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN: - Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask you a number of supplementaries in this regard. Is it not a fact, Mr. Chairman, that the larger question of low-cost housing and resettlement, including the operational policy and methods of the Squatter Control Unit, is presently under intensive review by a Special Working Party appointed by Government?

CHAIRMAN: - I think you are moving a little away from the original question, but the answer is "Yes".

MR. CHEONG-LEEN: - Will it be possible then, Mr. Chairman, for all Members of this Council to receive copies of this report and its recommendations and to be given the opportunity of putting forward their views before any major decision is taken by Government thereon?

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recommendations and to be given the opportunity of putting forward their views before any major decision is taken by Government thereon?

CHAIRMAN: - The short answer is "Yes". There will not be a public debate, but the report will be considered in the Resettlement Policy Select Committee or in Standing Committee of the Whole, or, as I imagine, in both Committees.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN: - Has the Chairman received a copy of a paper prepared by Mrs. Elsie Elliott on "Squatter Clearance at Diamond Hill" which apparently has already been circulated to the press as well as Members of this Council?

CHAIRMAN: - Yes, Sir, and I believe every Member of Council has received a copy.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN: - Will the Chairman then agree to having this paper discussed at the Committee of the Whole meeting which will be held immediately after this Council meeting?

CHAIRMAN: I am prepared to raise the matter under "Other Business", but whether we have a discussion will depend upon the majority wish of Members.

MR. BERNACCHI: - Mr. Chairman, I would appreciate being informed, and I suggest by official letter, of the evidence on which the Commissioner for Resettlement bases his remarks that the vast majority were very recent arrivals on the site.

COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT: - Mr. Chairman, this can be treated as a normal Urban Council enquiry.

MR. WATSON: - Mr. Chairman, may I ask a supplementary? Can you assure us that the officers involved in carrying out this policy at Diamond Hill have carried it out in accordance with the policy laid down by this Council?

COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT: The policy laid down by this Council is that there should be no squatting.

MR. WATSON: Mr. Chairman, if that is the case, am I right in saying that any criticism of the work of these officers is therefore criticism of Members of this Council?

MRS. ELLIOTT: Mr. Chairman, there was some mention of a water supply. As the water supply was only begun by Saturday, could the Commissioner give us an assurance that it will be ready by September 6th, which is the deadline for the removal of the Diamond Hill squatters?

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