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ings, and these cannot be easily accounted for. However, I am told that perhaps 25,000 young people between the ages of 7 and 21 are thought to be covered by group work in clubs and other groups in resettlement estates, and that existing centres in some cases, at least, could cater for more young people as they are not fully used at the moment. Perhaps I might here add a caution, and that is that clubs in resettlement estates do not cater exclusively for persons living in such estates, any more than do schools. It is known, for instance, that in one specific case of a club in Lei Cheng Uk Estate, members come from almost every district in Kowloon, and even from Hong Kong.

The second part of the question asks for the estimated population in resettlement estates between the ages of 12 and 20. I regret that I can give no answer which could claim any validity. The medium projection of the 1961 census prophesied that this year, 21.5% of the population of Hong Kong would be aged from 10 to 19. This does not, of course, mean that over one in five of the inhabitants of resettlement estates are in this age group, merely that it is one of a number of possible working figures.

3. The third part of the question asks about Government's planned expansion of youth services, including recreation and employment, within resettlement estates.

So far as recreation facilities are concerned, I would refer Mr. CHEONG-LEEN to the answer given to a similar question in this Council in the February meeting. It is true that my friend Mr. SALES was then asked to look forward to 1971, not to 1968, but then the Chairman of the Select Committee always takes long views as well as hard looks. So far as youth employment service is concerned, this again was raised at a previous meeting, when the reply indicated that this was a matter for the Labour Department and was of general application and not confined to Resettlement Estates. I am, in fact, now informed that the Labour Department has initiated discussions on the establishment of such a service, but this is obviously not a matter that can be planned simply in relation to the resettlement estates.

4.

As regards other youth services, my friend, the Director of Social Welfare, has indicated to me that this is, of course, not a matter of Government planning alone, as the question implies. A large part of the youth services provided are operated by voluntary agencies, often with very substantial assistance from Government subvention or from the Lotteries Fund, upon which he and the Social Welfare Advisory Committee advise Government. Forward planning in the whole field of social welfare measures is a matter for co-operation between the Social Welfare Department and the Hong Kong Council of Social Service. Moreover, it is not confined to resettlement estates. Increased provision of services involves not only premises, which are within the competence of the Department so far as Estates are concerned, but also finance and staff. Premises in resettlement estates seem unlikely to be a limiting factor. Probably the most severely limiting factor is the availability of competent trained staff, but again, this is a matter of general application. There is a community centre planned for Chai Wan, and as a preliminary step, the Hong Kong Council of Social Service will shortly be undertaking a survey to determine the services that should be provided for in it. No doubt, services for youth will be included. Subventions to organizations operating youth groups have been increased for the current year, but again, it is not possible at present to say to what extent this will increase youth activities in resettlement estates.

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MR. CHEONG-LEEN: - Mr. Chairman, I congratulate the Commissioner for Resettlement on his extensive reply. I have a couple of supplementaries. We all know that at the riots last month, many young people took part, some of them from resettlement estates, which has pointed up to the need for more rapid expansion of youth services. Why has Government pulled such a colossal blunder in having its priorities upside down, Mr. Chairman? Instead of going about setting up urgently a Commission of Inquiry, and naming that inquiry, it has sought fit to increase ferry fares urgently. Do you know the reason why, Mr. Chairman?

CHAIRMAN: Sir, I cannot admit that question.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN: - You cannot answer it either, I presume. The other supplementary then, is this. I have received today a letter from the Commissioner for Resettlement, which is an answer to a supplementary question regarding employment registration centres in some of the larger resettlement estates. I believe that this reply is very relevant to the question and answer at today's meeting, and I would be grateful, Sir, if you could request the Government Information Services to make this available to the English language press and a translation available to the Chinese press.

CHAIRMAN: Sir, without knowing what the letter contains, I can hardly give any such undertaking, but I will study it.

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