1966 — Page 173

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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

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2.

3.

4.

In reply to the second part, there are 1,912 domestic cottages in this area, so that the number lying empty represents about 5% of the total.

In May this year the King's Park Kaifong Association suggested that the empty cottages should be allocated to overcrowded families in this area. Before reaching a decision on this proposal, it is important to review our policy on additions to households in cottage areas, which is more liberal even than that which, until recently, was in force in the estates. Now that the latter has been revised, I propose to refer the policy for Cottage Areas to the Resettlement Policy Select Committee. Members will appreciate that, if additions are too freely allowed, families which expand into these empty cottages may soon become overcrowded once more, and thereby add to the eventual commitment for resettlement in an estate. In deciding what to do with the empty cottages, other factors will also have to be taken into consideration, such as the cost of carrying out necessary repairs.

The rubbish to which Mr. CHEUNG refers in the fourth part of the question has since been removed and instructions have been given to the staff in the area to ensure that further accumulations do not occur.

MR. CHEUNG WING-IN:- Mr. Chairman, may I ask how long it will take the Department to come to a decision on whether or not to allow these other residents to occupy these empty huts. I have seen a number of these residents and they themselves have indicated their willingness to effect repairs at their own expense, and not to ask for resettlement rights in respect of the extended accommodation. If repairs and resettlement rights are holding up the decision, may the matter be reviewed in the light of the willingness on the part of the residents to co-operate?

COMMISSIONER for Resettlement:- Yes, I will certainly bear that point in mind. I think it will only be a matter of a week or two, depending on when the next meeting is, before the question of additions is referred to the Policy Select Committee who, I think, also ought to consider what should be done with the cottages.

MR. CHEUNG WING-IN:- Thank you.

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

I understand that following representations made by the Tze Wan Shan Kaifong Association for more telephone service in the Tze Wan Shan Estate, the Telephone Company has announced that within the next two months there will be made available an additional 700 telephone lines in the area; can the Commissioner for Resettlement advise whether it will be possible to seek the co-operation of the telephone company to ensure that the more essential social and welfare service groups in the estate, such as schools, clinics, Kaifong Association, etc. will be given some priority in the allocation of telephone service?

THE COMMISSIONER for Resettlement replied as follows:

I understand from the Telephone Company that they give priority in the allocation of telephone lines to doctors, clinics and registered schools, but that other persons wishing to have telephones are dealt with in the order in which they apply. There are two clinics and seven estate schools now in operation in the estate. I am advised by the Company that if the other five welfare organizations wish to apply for priority treatment, they should write to the Company stating their reasons, and that these will receive careful consideration. Any applicant who is dissatisfied with the Company's decision on a request for priority may appeal to the Advisory Committee on Telephone Services.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- Mr. Chairman, could I ask the Commissioner for Resettlement if he would draw the attention of the welfare organizations, in particular these five he has made reference to, to his reply? I also understand that the Kaifong Association has applied for telephone service and they have been turned down. Would the Commissioner be prepared to assist the Kaifong Association in liaising with the Telephone Company?

COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:- Most certainly, I was proposing to do just what Mr. CHEONG-LEEN suggested.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- Thank you very much.

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

Can the Commissioner for Resettlement advise how many suggestions and complaints boxes are to be found in resettlement estates, and to what extent they are being utilized by residents within the estate? To what degree are complaints or suggestions, if any, brought to the attention of Urban Council Select Committees?

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