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is the resettlement forecast for July, August and September this year? Is it anticipated that Government's target of 120,000 for the current financial year will be reached?

THE COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT replied as follows:-

In the period 1st April to 30th June, 1964 24,436 persons were resettled. These included 10,494 squatters on land, 5,588 boat squatters, 3,985 persons from resite areas, 2,599 from Cottage Areas, 1,462 from overcrowded rooms in Resettlement Estates and 308 compassionate cases.

I hesitate to forecast the rate of resettlement even for the three months immediately ahead. Bad weather, a defaulting contractor, or a number of other misfortunes may delay the completion of new blocks which is the governing factor. My guess is that we shall resettle between 30 and 31,000 persons in the quarter July to September 1964, and that, all being well, we shall reach the target of 120,000 by the end of the financial year. With luck, we may do better.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:--Mr. Chairman, may I ask the Commissioner whether this is his lucky year? (Laughter). In any case, I wish him luck. (Laughter).

MRS. E. ELLIOTT asked the following question:-

Since tuberculosis is the greatest killer in Hong Kong, is there a danger to public health in the packing of a hundred or more persons on the lower decks of public buses in Kowloon?

Does the possible danger to life and limb on such grossly overcrowded buses come within the terms of reference of this Council with respect to public health?

The Deputy Director of Medical and HEALTH SERVICES replied as follows:-

The answer to the first part of the question is 'Yes'. It must be stated however that the same potential health danger is present wherever similar overcrowded conditions exist. The answer to the second part of the question is 'No'.

MRS. ELLIOTT:-Mr. Chairman, may I say first that this question is not intended to discriminate in favour of or against Kowloon bus users, but it does refer to a certain type of bus which is only found in Kowloon. I have heard many members of the public express concern over special danger on these buses where there is no passenger limit at all. Would it not be possible, Mr. Chairman, for the Medical and Health Services, or some other appropriate authority, to check up whether this type of bus presents any special danger to public health?

DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES:-There is a limit on the number of passengers on these buses. It may not be kept to, but the limit is in the regulations.

MRS. ELLIOTT:-Mr. Chairman, the type of bus I am talking about has no gate-keeper. The gates are made of metal and they just allow as many people as may wish to get on, especially when there is no gatekeeper to limit them.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, is Mrs. ELLIOTT referring to the type of bus with automatic gates?

MRS. ELLIOTT:-Yes.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-I am not too sure what Mrs. ELLIOTT means, Mr. Chairman. Is she referring to danger arising from the automatic closure of the gates?

MRS. ELLIOTT:-The fact that there is no gate-keeper and the gate is automatic means that as many people as wish to do so can board the bus. I personally have seen a hundred people on a bus and they are so close together that they are breathing each other's breath. I think there is a public danger arising from infection.

DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES:-I quite agree that there is overcrowding on buses. The question will be referred to the Advisory Committee on Public Transport who also have plans, I believe, for "standee" buses, which may not relieve the overcrowding but will improve transport facilities. The question of overcrowding will be gone into as well as this matter.

MRS. ELLIOTT:-I am not just worrying about overcrowding. It is the health risk. It may be necessary to ask the conductor to limit the number of passengers since there is no gate-keeper.

MRS. E. ELLIOTT asked the following question :-

Would you give us the exact statistics of the number of persons able to use the Urban Council swimming pools each day, and also the exact number of football pitches and basketball courts open to the public in the Colony? Are these numbers indicative of a need for more facilities for the youth of the Colony?

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