1965 — Page 164

Urban Council Proceedings 市政局議事錄 All AI Reviewed

Page 164 of 382

306

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-This is really a matter of retaining the six Priorities mentioned in the White Paper in relation to the supply of new buildings coming off the line. It is expected during the current financial year that approximately 130,000 units of accommodation will be built and completed by the Public Works Department and this accommodation has been allocated, as it were, to different numbers in the six priorities. If we were to divert our main efforts whereby an unknown number of excluded persons would be coming on to our books for resettlement, it would upset the whole of our priorities and possibly mean considerable delays in other development projects. I said that some 27,415 persons were affected by Exclusion Orders this year alone. It may well have been that had these persons been entitled to resettlement, the numbers would have increased, by imposters or unregistered persons moving in shortly before exclusion so as to get the privileges of resettlement, and we may well have had to handle over thirty thousand persons. Now, to add 30,000 persons to this year's programme as I have said, would have meant dislocating other development projects along the line. Nevertheless, I indicated in the first part of my answer that possibly the Working Party on Slum Clearance, which is, I understand, shortly to make its report to Government, may have a solution touching upon this particular problem.

MR. BERNACCHI-Sir, I thank the Commissioner for his very lengthy and commendable answer to my question. I don't agree with it, but at least he puts the case very well.

MRS. ELLIOTT:-Mr. Chairman, some mention was made about boat squatters. May I ask the Commissioner what the position is with regard to the clearance of boat squatters from Ngau Tau Kok and the Cheung Sha Wan Bay area?

COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-I have anticipated this supplementary question and I have, in fact, the figures. Members of this Council know that Cheung Sha Wan Bay is scheduled for reclamation. Dumping of spoil has been in hand for some time and since the end of August, strict control has been maintained by the Director of Marine on the entry and exit of all vessels to and from the Bay. For this purpose, a large barge is moored in narrows near the mouth of the Bay. Since the end of August, my staff has resited about 640 persons from 76 squatter or non-working boats from the Bay at Cheung Sha Wan. These persons have been resited on the reclaimed land fronting Ngau Tau Kok village. This area is familiarly referred to as the Kowloon Bay Resite Area. All the boats that these people lived on have been destroyed to prevent their re-use elsewhere as squatter boats. There are still 250 non-working boats within the Bay, that is, inside the boom formed by the Marine Department barge; about 1,750 persons live on these boats. During the next two or three months, they will all be offered resites in the Kowloon Bay area, provided they hand their boats over for destruction in due course. There are 40 non-working boats outside the boom barge, housing about 300 persons. Again they will be offered resites if they wish to change from a life afloat. Altogether therefore there are 290 squatter boats to be cleared in Cheung Sha Wan Bay. There are, in addition, about 155 working boats in the bay and they will be directed to other anchorages when the mouth of the bay is closed at the end of the year.

MRS. ELLIOTT:-Mr. Chairman, may I just ask for the Commissioner's assurance that when they give up their boats, no person will be left homeless?

COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-I can certainly give that assurance, Mr. Chairman.

MR. FORSGATE:-Mr. Chairman, could I ask you to ask the Commissioner to ask his opposite number in the Marine Department to make sure they don't set up a home in another part of the waters of the Colony with the possible exception of typhoon shelters?

COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-This is much the same question as has before been asked on previous occasions in this Council. Shortly after the Director of Marine moored the barge in the narrows of the Cheung Sha Wan Bay, a number of non-working boats did move out of the Bay. These were presumably people who preferred to lead a life afloat, and they have moved, some into waters near the Kowloon Bay Resite area and some into the Aberdeen protected waters. The Director of Marine has powers to control the entry and exit of non-working boats, and indeed, any vessel entering into the typhoon anchorages of the Colony. I have no doubt he will keep an eye on this matter, and ensure that the remaining boats are removed from the bay, in the case of those who do not wish to move from a life afloat to a life ashore.

MR. SALES: -Sir, do those figures quoted include Government's responsibility for all the owners of pleasure craft at various places in Hong Kong, they too should be resettled as they are taxpayers, even though they only use their craft at weekends could you give us this assurance?

MR. HU: Mr. Chairman, I do not quite understand the last part of the Commissioner for Resettlement's answer. What does he mean, these Priorities, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6? Does he mean that after the first group of people has been resettled then he starts to resettle the second group, or has the Commissioner resettled them on a percentage basis, some from the first group and then some from the second group?

307

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

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Page 164 of 382 306 HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-This is really a matter of retaining the six Priorities mentioned in the White Paper in relation to the supply of new buildings coming off the line. It is expected during the current financial year that approximately 130,000 units of accommodation will be built and completed by the Public Works Department and this accommodation has been allocated, as it were, to different numbers in the six priorities. If we were to divert our main efforts whereby an unknown number of excluded persons would be coming on to our books for resettlement, it would upset the whole of our priorities and possibly mean considerable delays in other development projects. I said that some 27,415 persons were affected by Exclusion Orders this year alone. It may well have been that had these persons been entitled to resettlement, the numbers would have increased, by imposters or unregistered persons moving in shortly before exclusion so as to get the privileges of resettlement, and we may well have had to handle over thirty thousand persons. Now, to add 30,000 persons to this year's programme as I have said, would have meant dislocating other development projects along the line. Nevertheless, I indicated in the first part of my answer that possibly the Working Party on Slum Clearance, which is, I understand, shortly to make its report to Government, may have a solution touching upon this particular problem. MR. BERNACCHI-Sir, I thank the Commissioner for his very lengthy and commendable answer to my question. I don't agree with it, but at least he puts the case very well. MRS. ELLIOTT:-Mr. Chairman, some mention was made about boat squatters. May I ask the Commissioner what the position is with regard to the clearance of boat squatters from Ngau Tau Kok and the Cheung Sha Wan Bay area? COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-I have anticipated this supplementary question and I have, in fact, the figures. Members of this Council know that Cheung Sha Wan Bay is scheduled for reclamation. Dumping of spoil has been in hand for some time and since the end of August, strict control has been maintained by the Director of Marine on the entry and exit of all vessels to and from the Bay. For this purpose, a large barge is moored in narrows near the mouth of the Bay. Since the end of August, my staff has resited about 640 persons from 76 squatter or non-working boats from the Bay at Cheung Sha Wan. These persons have been resited on the reclaimed land fronting Ngau Tau Kok village. This area is familiarly referred to as the Kowloon Bay Resite Area. All the boats that these people lived on have been destroyed to prevent their re-use elsewhere as squatter boats. There are still 250 non-working boats within the Bay, that is, inside the boom formed by the Marine Department barge; about 1,750 persons live on these boats. During the next two or three months, they will all be offered resites in the Kowloon Bay area, provided they hand their boats over for destruction in due course. There are 40 non-working boats outside the boom barge, housing about 300 persons. Again they will be offered resites if they wish to change from a life afloat. Altogether therefore there are 290 squatter boats to be cleared in Cheung Sha Wan Bay. There are, in addition, about 155 working boats in the bay and they will be directed to other anchorages when the mouth of the bay is closed at the end of the year. MRS. ELLIOTT:-Mr. Chairman, may I just ask for the Commissioner's assurance that when they give up their boats, no person will be left homeless? COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-I can certainly give that assurance, Mr. Chairman. MR. FORSGATE:-Mr. Chairman, could I ask you to ask the Commissioner to ask his opposite number in the Marine Department to make sure they don't set up a home in another part of the waters of the Colony with the possible exception of typhoon shelters? COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-This is much the same question as has before been asked on previous occasions in this Council. Shortly after the Director of Marine moored the barge in the narrows of the Cheung Sha Wan Bay, a number of non-working boats did move out of the Bay. These were presumably people who preferred to lead a life afloat, and they have moved, some into waters near the Kowloon Bay Resite area and some into the Aberdeen protected waters. The Director of Marine has powers to control the entry and exit of non-working boats, and indeed, any vessel entering into the typhoon anchorages of the Colony. I have no doubt he will keep an eye on this matter, and ensure that the remaining boats are removed from the bay, in the case of those who do not wish to move from a life afloat to a life ashore. MR. SALES: -Sir, do those figures quoted include Government's responsibility for all the owners of pleasure craft at various places in Hong Kong, they too should be resettled as they are taxpayers, even though they only use their craft at weekends could you give us this assurance? MR. HU: Mr. Chairman, I do not quite understand the last part of the Commissioner for Resettlement's answer. What does he mean, these Priorities, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6? Does he mean that after the first group of people has been resettled then he starts to resettle the second group, or has the Commissioner resettled them on a percentage basis, some from the first group and then some from the second group? 307 HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL Page 165 of 382 308

Baseline (Original)

382 Page 164 of 382 306 HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-This is really a matter of retaining the six Priorities mentioned in the White Paper in relation to the supply of new buildings coming off the line. It is expected during the current financial year that approximately 130,000 units of accom- modation will be built and completed by the Public Works Department and this accommodation has been allocated, as it were, to different numbers in the six priorities. If we were to divert our main efforts whereby an unknown number of excluded persons would be coming on to our books for resettlement, it would upset the whole of our priorities and possibly mean considerable delays in other development projects. I said that some 27,415 persons were affected by Exclusion Orders this year alone. It may well have been that had these persons been entitled to resettlement, the numbers would have increased, by imposters or unregistered persons moving in shortly before exclusion so as to get the privileges of resettlement, and we may well have had to handle over thirty thousand persons. Now, to add 30,000 persons to this year's programme as I have said, would have meant dislocating other development projects along the line. Nevertheless, I indicated in the first part of my answer that possibly the Working Party on Slum Clearance, which is, I understand, shortly to make it's report to Govern- ment, may have a solution touching upon this particular problem. MR. BERNACCHI-Sir, I thank the Commissioner for his very lengthy and commendable answer to my question. I don't agree with it, but at least he puts the case very well. MRS. ELLIOTT:-Mr. Chairman, some mention was made about boat squatters. May I ask the Commissioner what the position is with regard to the clearance of boat squatters from Ngau Tau Kok and the Cheung Sha Wan Bay area? COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-I have anticipated this supplementary question and I have, in fact, the figures. Members of this Council know that Cheung Sha Wan Bay is scheduled for reclama- tion. Dumping of spoil has been in hand for some time and since the end of August, strict control has been maintained by the Director of Marine on the entry and exit of all vessels to and from the Bay. For this purpose, a large barge is moored in narrows near the mouth of the Bay. Since the end of August, my staff has resited about 640 persons from 76 squatter or non-working boats from the Bay at Cheung Sha Wan. These persons have been resited on the reclaimed land fronting Ngau Tau Kok village. This area is familiarly referred to as the Kowloon Bay Resite Area. All the boats that these people lived on have been destroyed to prevent their re-use elsewhere as squatter boats. There are still 250 non-working boats within the Bay, that is, inside the boom formed by the Marine Department barge; about 1,750 persons live on these boats. During the next two or three months, they will all HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL 307 be offered resites in the Kowloon Bay area, provided they hand their boats over for destruction in due course. There are 40 non-working boats outside the boom barge, housing about 300 persons. Again they will be offered resites if they wish to change from a life afloat. Altogether therefore there are 290 squatter boats to be cleared in Cheung Sha Wan Bay. There are, in addition, about 155 working boats in the bay and they will be directed to other anchorages when the mouth of the bay is closed at the end of the year. MRS. ELLIOTT:-Mr. Chairman, may I just ask for the Commis- sioner's assurance that when they give up their boats, no person will be left homeless? COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-I can certainly give that assurance, Mr. Chairman. MR. FORSGATE:-Mr. Chairman, could I ask you to ask the Com- missioner to ask his opposite number in the Marine Department to make sure they don't set up a home in another part of the waters of the Colony with the possible exception of typhoon shelters? COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-This is much the same question as has before been asked on previous occasions in this Council. Shortly after the Director of Marine moored the barge in the narrows of the Cheung Sha Wan Bay, a number of non-working boats did move out of the Bay. These were presumably people who preferred to lead a life afloat, and they have moved, some into waters near the Kowloon Bay Resite area and some into the Aberdeen protected waters. The Director of Marine has powers to control the entry and exit of non- working boats, and indeed, any vessel entering into the typhoon anchor- ages of the Colony. I have no doubt he will keep an eye on this matter, and ensure that the remaining boats are removed from the bay, in the case of those who do not wish to move from a life afloat to a life ashore. MR. SALES: -Sir, do those figures quoted include Government's responsibility for all the owners of pleasure craft at various places in Hong Kong, they too should be resettled as they are taxpayers, even though they only use their craft at weekends could you give us this assurance? MR. HU: Mr. Chairman, I do not quite understand the last part of the Commissioner for Resettlement's answer. What does he mean, these Priorities, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6? Does he mean that after the first group of people has been resettled then he starts to resettle the second group, or has the Commissioner resettled them on a percentage basis, some from the first group and then some from the second group?

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382

Page 164 of 382

306

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-This is really a matter of retaining the six Priorities mentioned in the White Paper in relation to the supply of new buildings coming off the line. It is expected during the current financial year that approximately 130,000 units of accom- modation will be built and completed by the Public Works Department and this accommodation has been allocated, as it were, to different numbers in the six priorities. If we were to divert our main efforts whereby an unknown number of excluded persons would be coming on to our books for resettlement, it would upset the whole of our priorities and possibly mean considerable delays in other development projects. I said that some 27,415 persons were affected by Exclusion Orders this year alone. It may well have been that had these persons been entitled to resettlement, the numbers would have increased, by imposters or unregistered persons moving in shortly before exclusion so as to get the privileges of resettlement, and we may well have had to handle over thirty thousand persons. Now, to add 30,000 persons to this year's programme as I have said, would have meant dislocating other development projects along the line. Nevertheless, I indicated in the first part of my answer that possibly the Working Party on Slum Clearance, which is, I understand, shortly to make it's report to Govern- ment, may have a solution touching upon this particular problem.

MR. BERNACCHI-Sir, I thank the Commissioner for his very lengthy and commendable answer to my question. I don't agree with it, but at least he puts the case very well.

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

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be offered resites in the Kowloon Bay area, provided they hand their boats over for destruction in due course. There are 40 non-working boats outside the boom barge, housing about 300 persons. Again they will be offered resites if they wish to change from a life afloat. Altogether therefore there are 290 squatter boats to be cleared in Cheung Sha Wan Bay. There are, in addition, about 155 working boats in the bay and they will be directed to other anchorages when the mouth of the bay is closed at the end of the year.

MRS. ELLIOTT:-Mr. Chairman, may I just ask for the Commis- sioner's assurance that when they give up their boats, no person will be left homeless?

COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-I can certainly give that assurance, Mr. Chairman.

MR. FORSGATE:-Mr. Chairman, could I ask you to ask the Com- missioner to ask his opposite number in the Marine Department to make sure they don't set up a home in another part of the waters of the Colony with the possible exception of typhoon shelters?

COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-This is much the same question as has before been asked on previous occasions in this Council. Shortly after the Director of Marine moored the barge in the narrows of the Cheung Sha Wan Bay, a number of non-working boats did move out of the Bay. These were presumably people who preferred to lead a life afloat, and they have moved, some into waters near the Kowloon Bay Resite area and some into the Aberdeen protected waters. The Director of Marine has powers to control the entry and exit of non- working boats, and indeed, any vessel entering into the typhoon anchor- ages of the Colony. I have no doubt he will keep an eye on this matter, and ensure that the remaining boats are removed from the bay, in the case of those who do not wish to move from a life afloat to a life ashore.

1965 — Page 164

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