HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
THE COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT replied as follows:
The work consists of a contract for the construction of 12 blocks numbered 1 to 12 inclusive on reclaimed land and a second contract for the construction of 3 more blocks numbered 13, 14 and 15 on the adjacent hillside. During the course of construction, it was observed that settlement of blocks 10 and 11 was taking place at the corner nearest to the line of the adjacent culvert which was also under construction. Settlement continued to such an extent that these two blocks developed cracks and work had to be suspended. The settlement has been found to be due to the failure of the piled foundations but it is too early to say why this failure occurred.
Four of the blocks of the first contract were completed in April 1964. I have recently received approval from the Public Works Department to occupy one of them, and 1,150 tenants will move in within the next few days. The other three, which are nearer to the culvert and the edge of the reclamation, will have to remain unoccupied until remedial measures have been taken. The present estimate is that it may be possible to occupy them after about 4 months. The two blocks which have developed cracks will probably have to be demolished and rebuilt and construction has also had to be stopped on an adjoining block. Work on the remaining 5 blocks under construction under the first contract is proceeding as is work on the 3 blocks in the second contract.
The effect of these events will be to delay for some months the resettlement of about 8,800 squatters mainly in Shau Kei Wan. Should the delay prove longer than expected, it may be necessary to resettle some of these people in estates in Kowloon if some clearances cannot be further deferred. But I hope to avoid this in the case of people who have already been told that they will be resettled at Chai Wan. It is however too early yet to determine precisely the extent to which the clearance programme will require modification.
MR. BERNACCHI:- Can this Council be informed (by paper, I do not suggest now), more fully about the reason for the failure in Blocks 10 and 11? The loss of money to Government and the loss of time in the clearance of squatters and resettlement is a great shock to this Council and it will put our clearance programme back for six months. I think this Council should be given a very full explanation of the reasons why it has been caused.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:- I am sorry my friend, the Director of Public Works, is not here at the moment, but I will be very happy to convey this request to him and I feel sure he will be glad to provide the information.
MR. LO: Mr. Chairman, am I to understand from the Commissioner's answer that although there might be some temporary delay in the resettlement of about 8,800 squatters in the Shau Kei Wan area, there will be no delay in this year's resettlement programme as a whole?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:- The whole programme is delayed to the extent that part of it is delayed.
MR. K. S. Lo asked the following question:-
With regard to the Resettlement Estates which are now being built in Tin Wan, can you tell this Council, how many units have been earmarked for the resettlement of the squatters in the Aberdeen district, and can I have your assurance that these squatters will not be resettled in estates outside Aberdeen when Government decides to reclaim the Staunton Creek?
THE COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT replied as follows:
The first, named Tin Wan Estate, is designed to house about 17,000 people. The first two blocks were occupied in May this year, and it is estimated that the estate may be completed about March 1965. The second estate is at the site formation stage and will eventually house 26,000 people, starting late in 1965. It is my intention that the first charge on both estates should be squatters, including boat squatters, living in the Aberdeen area. Present estimates of the number of such people who will have to be resettled suggest that it should be possible to rehouse them all in Aberdeen, but it would be unwise to give any categorical assurance at this stage.
MR. B. A. BERNACCHI asked the following question:-
On at least 2 occasions in the past, officers of the Secretariat for Chinese Affairs have appeared to have accompanied Mr. Solomon RAFEEK, who has published his candidacy for the coming Urban Council by-election, and they were
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
THE COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT replied as follows:
The work consists of a contract for the construction of 12 blocks numbered 1 to 12 inclusive on reclaimed land and a second contract for the construction of 3 more blocks numbered 13, 14 and 15 on the adjacent hillside. During the course of construction, it was observed that settle- ment of blocks 10 and 11 was taking place at the corner nearest to the line of the adjacent culvert which was also under construction. Settlement continued to such an ex- tent that these two blocks developed cracks and work had to be suspended. The settlement has been found to be due to the failure of the piled foundations but it is too early to say why this failure occurred.
Four of the blocks of the first contract were completed in April 1964. I have recently received approval from the Public Works Department to occupy one of them, and 1,150 tenants will move in within the next few days. The other three, which are nearer to the culvert and the edge of the reclamation, will have to remain unoccupied until remedial measures have been taken. The present estimate is that it may be possible to occupy them after about 4 months. The two blocks which have developed cracks will probably have to be demolished and rebuilt and construction has also had to be stopped on an adjoining block. Work on the remaining 5 blocks under construc- tion under the first contract is proceeding as is work on the 3 blocks in the second contract.
The effect of these events will be to delay for some months the resettlement of about 8,800 squatters mainly in Shau Kei Wan. Should the delay prove longer than expected, it may be necessary to resettle some of these people in estates in Kowloon if some clearances cannot be further deferred. But I hope to avoid this in the case of people who have already been told that they will be resettled at Chai Wan. It is however too early yet to determine pre- cisely the extent to which the clearance programme will require modification.
MR. BERNACCHI:-Can this Council be informed (by paper, I do not suggest now), more fully about the reason for the failure in Blocks 10 and 11? The loss of money to Government and the loss of time in the clearance of squatters and resettlement is a great shock to this Council and it will put our clearance programme back for six months. I think this Council should be given a very full explanation of the reasons why it has been caused.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
129
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:--I am sorry my friend, the Director of Public Works, is not here at the moment, but I will be very happy to convey this request to him and I feel sure he will be glad to provide the information.
MR. LO: Mr. Chairman, am I to understand from the Commis- sioner's answer that although there might be some temporary delay in the resettlement of about 8,800 squatters in the Shau Kei Wan area, there will be no delay in this year's resettlement programme as a whole?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-The whole programme is delayed to the extent that part of it is delayed.
MR. K. S. Lo asked the following question:-
With regard to the Resettlement Estates which are now being built in Tin Wan, can you tell this Council, how many units have been earmarked for the resettlement of the squatters in the Aberdeen district, and can I have your assurance that these squatters will not be resettled in estates outside Aberdeen when Government decides to reclaim the Staunton Creek?
THE COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT replied as follows:
The first, named Tin Wan Estate, is designed to house about 17,000 people. The first two blocks were occupied in May this year, and it is estimated that the estate may be completed about March 1965. The second estate is at the site formation stage and will eventually house 26,000 people, starting late in 1965. It is my intention that the first charge on both estates should be squatters, includ- ing boat squatters, living in the Aberdeen area. Present estimates of the number of such people who will have to be resettled suggest that it should be possible to rehouse them all in Aberdeen, but it would be unwise to give any categorical assurance at this stage.
MR. B. A. BERNACCHI asked the following question :-
On at least 2 occasions in the past, officers of the Secretariat for Chinese Affairs have appeared to have accompanied Mr. Solomon RAFEEK, who has published his candidacy for the coming Urban Council by-election, and they were
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