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season opens. This Sub-Committee will no doubt be issuing its report before long. In this connexion, may I also refer to the report just made on the pollution of the water at the popular swimming beaches. Remedial measures have been proposed to eliminate or reduce the sources of pollution. I would like Government to give this Council an assurance that all such measures will be put into effect before the 1966 swimming season starts. My Select Committee will want your Depart- ment, Sir, to issue periodic progress reports on this subject.

DR. BELL:-On a point of clarification Mr. Chairman. Did I hear Mr. SALES mention wards?

MR. SALES: I said the ward system.

MR. BERNACCHI : I also, Mr. Chairman, would like to make a personal statement. I would like the Chairman of the Urban Amenities Select Committee to put in a plea for better recreational facilities for children in Chai Wan which is part of Mr. Lo's and my ward.

MR. SALES: -The Urban Amenities Select Committee would be delighted to take into account the plea of the honourable member for Chai Wan.

QUESTIONS.

(1) DR. R. H. S. LEE asked the following question:

Is the Chairman aware that 23 quilt makers of resettlement shops have written to Council Members to seek clarifica- tion why the Resettlement Department has suddenly ordered them to cease business and change their trade when no objection was raised at the beginning to operate this type of business? Has this matter been referred to any of the Resettlement Select Committees? What is the reason for this drastic change of policy?

THE COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT replied as follows:-

I am aware that certain resettlement shop tenants engaged in cotton quilt making have approached Urban Councillors. The matter was discussed at a meeting of the Resettlement Management Select Committee on October 21st. It might help if I gave a brief account of the situation.

2. Up till 1963, cotton quilt making was accepted as a trade in resettlement shops and workshops. In 1963, a list of acceptable and prohibited trades in resettlement shops, workshops and factories was drawn up in consultation with the Labour Department and the Fire Services De- partment; cotton quilt making was listed as a prohibited

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trade because of the fire risk. In 1964, the Resettlement Management Select Committee approved revised condi- tions for resettlement factories and workshops. Included amongst these special conditions was a prohibition against bedding manufacture.

In August this year, the Resettlement Department found that some 15 shops were accustomed to carrying on the trade of cotton quilt making. Letters were sent to the tenants concerned, explaining that the trade was pro- hibited because of the fire risk. The Fire Services De- partment has emphasized the particular danger involved in this trade. The teasing of the raw cotton and its division into very fine particles makes it especially combustible. The deposit of these particles all over the interior of the premises increases the fire risk. It must be borne in mind that, if a fire occurred in a ground floor shop of a domestic resettlement block, the consequences to the thousands of residents in the block might be serious.

Cotton quilt making is not necessarily a continuous trade throughout the year. It tends to be a seasonal one, carried on mainly during the autumn and winter, in conjunction with sidelines in other trades.

At its recent meeting, the Resettlement Management Select Committee took note of the position and made certain proposals designed to remove the fire risk whilst preserving the livelihood of shop tenants genuinely dependent on cotton quilt making. The Resettlement Department is now looking into these proposals.

DR. LEE:-I would like, Mr. Chairman, to ask the Commissioner for Resettlement a supplementary question through you. How many cases of fire in the urban area were caused by quilt making, and how many cases in the resettlement areas were caused by quilt making within the last twelve months?

COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-There have not to my knowl- edge been any cases of fire in resettlement estates arising from this trade. I'm afraid I have no knowledge of the number of fires arising elsewhere.

DR. LEE:-The reason why I ask this question, Mr. Chairman, is this, I have been briefed by these people that quilt making is not a fire hazardous trade, and that if you deprive them, and also prevent them from carrying on a trade, it deprives them of the means of making a living.