1964 — Page 182

Of 312

Page 182 of 312

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COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-The road is an access road to this block and sixty departmental quarters and it might be called a service road. It does not continue on beyond the perimeter fence or wall surrounding the departmental quarters.

MRS. ELLIOTT:-Mr. Chairman, may I ask the Commissioner, through you if it would be possible to remove some of the railings from the wall so as to make it a through road for the people to use until such time as a proper road is given to them, because it is quite impossible for them to go to their houses in wet weather without getting into a dreadful state?

COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-Certainly, I should be glad to consult my colleague the Director of Public Works on the feasibility of that suggestion.

MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, with your permission and that of Mrs. ELLIOTT, as my neighbour (the Commissioner for Resettlement) has brought out a supplementary question by Mrs. ELLIOTT, may I clarify a point according to Standing Orders? Mr. Chairman, surely Mrs. ELLIOTT must be aware that everywhere in the Colony special parking lots have been reserved for Civil Servants while Urban Coun- cillors have to make do as best they can. Mr. Chairman, Mrs. ELLIOTT perhaps is not aware that when Government installed parking meters in Kowloon, I was surprised to see the great number of Civil Servants who suddenly found themselves seconded to the Marine Police at Tsim Sha Tsui, where there is an abundant free parking space.

MRS. ELLIOTT:-Mr. Chairman, I have another supplementary question. May I ask, Mr. Chairman, if you could have this area examined to see if it could be cleared up because it is a both hideous and filthy place, and it is evil-smelling too. Friends who live in the area assure me that the debris has been there since Typhoon Wanda two year ago.

CHAIRMAN:-I have not seen this area recently myself, but an inspection was carried out on my instructions yesterday. The area to which you refer is a large piece of undeveloped, vacant land and it is used extensively, I understand, by hawkers for storage of their paraphernalia and for selling fruit and old furniture, making wooden boxes, hiring bicycles, etc. As it is an undeveloped area, there has been some difficulty in providing a regular cleansing service and the position has not been improved by the recent shortage of labourers. In fact, I have in front of me now a very heartfelt cry from the Inspector-in-charge of the area emphasising the difficulties but saying that he is doing his best to clean up the area and keep it in a better

state.

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MR. CHEONG-LEEN:--In other words, Mr. Chairman, to clarify the point further, it is correct to say that there is a due amount of rubbish there which is quite visible?

MR. WATSON:-"Undue” or “due”? (Laughter).

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, with your permission, may I clarify that point? The Commissioner for Resettlement has said that there was not an undue amount, so I assume it must be a due amount. (Laughter).

CHAIRMAN:-I feel I must support my friend the Commissioner for Resettlement and say that it is not an undue amount of rubbish. I am told that there is a lot of paraphernalia belonging to persons like the hawkers. I do not think that they themselves regard it as rubbish. (Laughter).

MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, may I have a reply from the Chair- man of the Hawkers Select Committee on that particular point? (Laughter).

MR. BERNACCHI (CHAIRMAN OF THE HAWKERS SELECT COM- MITTEE):-I decline to reply. (Laughter).

MRS. ELLIOTT:-Mr. Chairman, joking apart, may I ask that we will be given some reply about this road because it is really necessary?

COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-Certainly, Mrs. ELLIOTT.

(12) MRS. E. ELLIOTT asked the following question :-

Is it possible that the huge quantity of mud that blocked the whole Kowloon City-Clear Water Bay Area, causing floods and filth, may have been the result of the removal of the former huge monsoon drains in that area?

THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS replied as follows:-

I understand that the monsoon drain referred to is the open nullah which used to run through the old rifle range area from below Lion Rock to the Kai Tak nullah. When the resettlement estate was developed, this nullah was replaced by a 7 foot diameter culvert and a large 101 foot x 7 foot box culvert. The levels were raised and the area serviced with a network of minor stormwater drains.

These works have in fact greatly improved the drainage of the area. Several inspections were made during the