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MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, may I suggest that this is most important. May I also suggest to you to bring to the attention of Government that if the conditions of employment were improved, then the Urban Services Department would not meet with the great staff shortage that it is now experiencing.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, may I ask the Director of Public Works, through you, this question: since these cleansing labourers do qualify for Government low-cost housing, would it not be one solution for Government to step up the programme of low-cost housing? I have suggested that the figure be increased on an average from 29,000 units per annum to 40,000 units per annum. Would the Director of Public Works agree that this would be one possible solution?
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS:-First of all, Mr. Chairman, I qualified my remarks about the eligibility of the labourers for Government low-cost housing by saying that I was not certain about this as I was talking without the book. On the point of stepping up the Government's low-cost housing programme, I can assure you and every Member that I will do everything I possibly can to step up that programme if Government approves a higher target figure.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-I have suggested previously, Mr. Chairman, that this figure be increased to 40,000 units. Could that point be raised again by the Director of Public Works with Government?
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS:-I will do it when I have the opportunity, Sir. I do not myself lay down the target figure, but I can only repeat that any target, however impossible it is, we will try to attain. I think it has been brought to the attention of Government and certainly I will bring it to the notice of the Colonial Secretariat.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Thank you.
(5) MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:-
Will the Commissioner for Resettlement please state how many community centres are to be found in the resettlement estates? Will the Commissioner also inquire from the Colonial Secretary whether it is Government's future policy to build a new Community Centre in all new resettlement estates with a population of 50,000 and above?
If not, what is Government's policy towards the building of community centres in resettlement estates?
THE COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT replied as follows:-
There are two community centres in or on the outskirts of the resettlement estates at Wong Tai Sin and Kwun Tong. A third is under construction close to the Tai Hang Tung Estate. Future policy with regard to the building of new community centres is under consideration.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Is there not another one planned for Chai Wan, Mr. Chairman?
DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE:-Perhaps I could mention the position on that, Mr. Chairman. There has been difficulty about land, but an application has recently been made for a site which should be suitable, and I hope that the project can go forward, but it is not more definite than that at the moment.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, could I ask Mr. BARON whether his department is most directly concerned with the policy regarding the building of community centres, or is it a matter for general consideration by the Secretariat?
DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE:-Mr. Chairman, I do not think I could add to what the Commissioner for Resettlement has said on this, as the future policy is under consideration. It is obviously a matter which affects Government as a whole.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: On a point of order, Mr. Chairman, I could not hear what was said. (Laughter).
DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE:-I am sorry. What I said, Mr. Chairman, was that I could not add to what the Commissioner for Resettlement has said, but that this matter of community centres obviously affects other departments of Government apart from my own department.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: Mr. Chairman, could I then ask the Commissioner for Resettlement this question: does he know who is responsible for deliberating future policy with regard to the building of new community centres?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-There is nothing that I can add to what the Director of Social Welfare has said. (Laughter). I imagine that it is largely a matter between the Social Welfare Department and the Secretariat, and the Public Works Department.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-I accept that.
(6) MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:
Will the Commissioner for Resettlement please state how many secondary schools and vocational training schools there are in the resettlement estates? Will he also inquire
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, may I suggest that this is most important. May I also suggest to you to bring to the attention of Government that if the conditions of employment were improved, then the Urban Services Department would not meet with the great staff shortage that it is now experiencing.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, may I ask the Director of Public Works, through you, this question: since these cleansing labourers do qualify for Government low-cost housing, would it not be one solution for Government to step up the programme of low-cost housing? I have suggested that the figure be increased on an average from 29,000 units per annum to 40,000 units per annum. Would the Director of Public Works agree that this would be one possible solution?
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS:-First of all, Mr. Chairman, I qualified my remarks about the eligibility of the labourers for Govern- ment low-cost housing by saying that I was not certain about this as I was talking without the book. On the point of stepping up the Government's low-cost housing programme, I can assure you and every Member that I will do everything I possibly can to step up that pro- gramme if Government approves a higher target figure.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-I have suggested previously, Mr. Chairman, that this figure be increased to 40,000 units. Could that point be raised again by the Director of Public Works with Government?
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS:-I will do it when I have the opportunity, Sir. I do not myself lay down the target figure, but I can only repeat that any target, however impossible it is, we will try to attain. I think it has been brought to the attention of Government and certainly I will bring it to the notice of the Colonial Secretariat.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Thank you.
(5) MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:-
Will the Commissioner for Resettlement please state how many community centres are to be found in the resettlement estates? Will the Commissioner also inquire from the Colonial Secretary whether it is Government's future policy to build a new Community Centre in all new resettlement estates with a population of 50,000 and above?
If not, what is Government's policy towards the building of com- munity centres in resettlement estates?
THE COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT replied as follows:-
There are two community centres in or on the outskirts of the resettlement estates at Wong Tai Sin and Kwun Tong. A
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569
third is under construction close to the Tai Hang Tung Estate. Future policy with regard to the building of new community centres is under consideration.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Is there not another one planned for Chai Wan, Mr. Chairman?
DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE:-Perhaps I could mention the position on that, Mr. Chairman. There has been difficulty about land, but an application has recently been made for a site which should be suitable, and I hope that the project can go forward, but it is not more definite than that at the moment.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:--Mr. Chairman, could I ask Mr. BARON whether his department is most directly concerned with the policy regarding the building of community centres, or is it a matter for general consideration by the Secretariat?
DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE:-Mr. Chairman, I do not think I could add to what the Commissioner for Resettlement has said on this, as the future policy is under consideration. It is obviously a matter which affects Government as a whole.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: On a point of order, Mr. Chairman, I could not hear what was said. (Laughter).
DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE:-I am sorry. What I said, Mr. Chairman, was that I could not add to what the Commissioner for Resettlement has said, but that this matter of community centres obviously affects other departments of Government apart from my own department.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: Mr. Chairman, could I then ask the Com- missioner for Resettlement this question: does he know who is responsible for deliberating future policy with regard to the building of new community centres?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-There is nothing that I can add to what the Director of Social Welfare has said. (Laughter). I imagine that it is largely a matter between the Social Welfare Depart- ment and the Secretariat, and the Public Works Department.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-I accept that.
(6) MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:
Will the Commissioner for Resettlement please state how many secondary schools and vocational training schools there are in the resettlement estates? Will he also inquire
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