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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

whose shops are too small. A great number of people nowadays seem to be unable to get shops. Would it be possible for us to refer this whole question of resettlement shops, including boat squatter shops, to the Resettlement Policy Select Committee?

COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-This matter could be referred to the appropriate Select Committee, but it is a matter of supply and demand. We have only a certain number of shop premises available and if the door is opened to any who are not presently acceptable for shop premises, then someone has got to drop off the list somewhere along the line.

MRS. ELLIOTT:-Mr. Chairman, I was not suggesting that we should offer more shops. I think it is because of this problem of the shortage of shops that we need to try and think of some policy. Could the Commissioner refer this question to the Resettlement Policy Select Committee?

COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-I will then refer it to the Select Committee.

(9) MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:-

I have been advised by educators in the Wang Tau Hom Resettlement Estate that there are over two thousand vacant primary school places, even though there are many children of primary school age living in the Estate who are not going to school:

(a) Will the Commissioner for Resettlement inquire from the Education Department as to what is being done to correct this anomalous situation?

(b) Is the Resettlement Department doing anything to encourage families in this Estate to send their primary-school age children to school?

THE COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT replied as follows:-

I am informed by the Director of Education that there are at present 2,160 vacant primary school places in the 7 primary schools in this estate. This represents less than 11% of the total number of places in these schools. This figure can be misleading, since newly-opened schools do not begin with all their upper classes filled. They begin by filling the lower classes, with promotion to higher classes in successive years. It generally takes about three years to fill all classes of a new school. In the case of Wang Tau Hom, one school which opened in September 1963 and another which opened in September last year, account for 1,575 of the 2,160 vacancies. It is expected that all their classes will be full within two years. The Resettlement Department has not taken any particular steps to encourage families in Wang Tau Hom estate to send their primary school-age children to school. Experience indicates that Hong Kong residents are normally only too anxious to send their children to school and I am not sure that the facts indicate a need for the department to take the initiative here.

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1963 and another which opened in September last year, account for 1,575 of the 2,160 vacancies. It is expected that all their classes will be full within two years. The Resettlement Department has not taken any particular steps to encourage families in Wang Tau Hom estate to send their primary school-age children to school. Experience indicates that Hong Kong residents are normally only too anxious to send their children to school and I am not sure that the facts indicate a need for the department to take the initiative here.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, I hope Mr. WAKEFIELD does not consider that I am beginning to distrust him since he has just taken over as Commissioner for Resettlement, but is he aware that the Resettlement Department had taken the initiative in the case of the Wong Tai Sin estate, where at my request, a survey was made of a number of children of primary school-age who were not going to school, and it was found out at that time that there were at least 2,000 vacant primary school places? I also requested the Department to carry out a survey at Tze Wan Shan and there again there were a couple of thousand vacant school places. At the same time, there were several thousand children of primary school-age who were not going to school. I would very much like, Mr. Chairman, if this matter could be referred to the Resettlement Management Committee and if a representative of the Education Department could be invited to attend this meeting. May I ask the Commissioner for Resettlement if this could be arranged?

COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-I was not aware that the survey to which Mr. Hilton CHEONG-LEEN has referred was in fact carried out in the Wong Tai Sin Resettlement Estate. I would be happy to refer this matter to the appropriate Select Committee.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Thank you.

(10) MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:-

(a) Is the Commissioner for Resettlement aware that Tse Fa gambling is still a highly-organized racket in resettlement estates?

(b) Will the Commissioner for Resettlement inquire from the Commissioner of Police what positive steps have been taken to stamp out illegal gambling in resettlement areas and estates since this subject was last raised in the Urban Council many months ago?

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