HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT: --May I refer Mr. Hu to the White Paper. It is all laid down in paragraph 16 or 17.
MR. HU: -You say if the tenants in dangerous buildings do not accept the rent advance scheme then they are not entitled to be resettled. Is that correct?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT: -Not directly, Mr. Chairman. They may not be interested in the rent advance scheme, but obtain accommodation in a private sector themselves. Alternatively, if they do not obtain private accommodation and still do not wish to join the rent advance scheme and have nowhere else to go, then we would, of course, offer them a site in a re-site area.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
SECRETARY FOR CHINESE AFFAIRS: I do not know what Mr. CHEONG-LEEN or Mr. BARTY means by "sticking" together. (Laughter).
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: --May I explain that "sticking together" meant they were literally sticking together.
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT: -Perhaps I should explain Mr. Chairman that although there was other available accommodation in the camp which they could have occupied, for some reason they seemed to prefer to remain together in Hut No. 6. When however Hut No. 4, which is just directly opposite No. 6 became available, then, and only then, were some of the families persuaded to move out.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: -Mr. Chairman, I would confirm that when the site was visited by a number of Urban Councillors they were "sticking" together, and I do congratulate the Commissioner for Resettlement for the prompt action which he has taken.
(9) MR. SOLOMON RAFEEK asked the following question:
Will the Chairman please advise which Department is responsible for accommodating the flood victims now at the North Point Camp. When I visited this camp several days ago, I found flood victims living in extremely congested and insanitary conditions in No. 6 Shed, with as many as 15 persons sleeping in an area of 10' x 12' sq. ft.
THE COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT replied as follows:
The Resettlement Department is responsible for providing temporary accommodation for flood victims in the North Point Camp.
The occupants of No. 6 hut are all from Aberdeen and claim to have been living on boats in Staunton Creek. There were 38 families totalling 236 persons in this hut which measures 2,214 sq. ft. The density, therefore, was about 10 sq. ft. per person, not 8 sq. ft. as suggested in the question.
These people form a very closely-knit group and were anxious to stick together. However, on the 29th June, the former occupants of No. 4 hut left the camp and several families were then persuaded to move into it from No. 6. This reduced the number of people in the latter to 183, at a density of about 12 sq. ft. per person.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: -May I ask a supplementary? I saw from the Chinese press that the very next day after a number of Urban Councillors visited this camp, the Secretary for Chinese Affairs also visited it. Did he find when he visited No. 6 camp that these people were sticking that closely together?
(10) MR. SOLOMON RAFEEK asked the following question:
I have received a petition from many hawkers in the Tai Hang District urging Government to make every effort to clear King Street, Brown Street and Sphere Street so that they can return there as soon as possible to carry on their trade.
Can the Chairman give an indication how soon this can be done, as I understand that many hawkers were left destitute as a result of the recent flood?
THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS replied as follows:
Most of the silt within the Tai Hang area had been cleared by the end of last week.
The Public Works Department is currently undertaking the reconstruction of Brown Street, King Street and portions of Shepherd Street and Ormsby Street. In order to reduce inconvenience to members of the public the work is being done in three stages, and only about one third of the area will be closed at any one time. The hawkers affected have been re-sited temporarily in Wun Sha Street.
MR. BERNACCHI: -As Chairman of the Hawkers Select Committee, may I ask whether this petition has been brought to the attention of the Hawkers Select Committee?
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT: --May I refer Mr. Hu to the White Paper. It is all laid down in paragraph 16 or 17.
MR. HU:-You say if the tenants in dangerous buildings do not accept the rent advance scheme then they are not entitled to be resettled. Is that correct?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-Not directly, Mr. Chairman. They may not be interested in the rent advance scheme, but obtain accommodation in a private sector themselves. Alternatively, if they do not obtain private accommodation and still do not wish to join the rent advance scheme and have nowhere else to go, then we would, of course, offer them a site in a re-site area.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
131
SECRETARY FOR CHINESE AFFAIRS: I do not know what Mr. CHEONG-LEEN or Mr. BARTY means by "sticking" together. (Laughter).
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: --May I explain that "sticking together" meant they were literally sticking together.
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-Perhaps I should explain Mr. Chairman that although there was other available accommodation in the camp which they could have occupied, for some reason they seemed to prefer to remain together in Hut No. 6. When however Hut No. 4, which is just directly opposite No. 6 became available, then, and only then, were some of the families persuaded to move out.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, I would confirm that when the site was visited by a number of Urban Councillors they were "sticking" together, and I do congratuate the Commissioner for Resettlement for the prompt action which he has taken.
(9) MR. SOLOMON RAFEEK asked the following question:
Will the Chairman please advise which Department is respon- sible for accommodating the flood victims now at the North Point Camp. When I visited this camp several days ago, I found flood victims living in extremely con- gested and insanitary conditions in No. 6 Shed, with as many as 15 persons sleeping in an area of 10' x 12' sq. ft.
THE COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT replied as follows: ----
The Resettlement Department is responsible for providing tem- porary accommodation for flood victims in the North Point Camp.
The occupants of No. 6 hut are all from Aberdeen and claim to have been living on boats in Staunton Creek. There were 38 families totalling 236 persons in this but which measures 2,214 sq. ft. The density, therefore, was about
10 sq. ft. per person, not 8 sq. ft. as suggested in the question.
These people form a very closely-knit group and were anxious to stick together. However, on the 29th June, the former occupants of No. 4 hut left the camp and several families were then persuaded to move into it from No. 6. This reduced the number of people in the latter to 183, at a density of about 12 sq. ft. per person.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-May I ask a supplementary? I saw from the Chinese press that the very next day after a number of Urban Councillors visited this camp, the Secretary for Chinese Affairs also visited it. Did he find when he visited No. 6 camp that these people were sticking that closely together?
(10) MR. SOLOMON RAFEEK asked the following question:·
I have received a petition from many hawkers in the Tai Hang District urging Government to make every effort to clear King Street, Brown Street and Sphere Street so that they can return there as soon as possible to carry on their trade.
Can the Chairman give an indication how soon this can be done, as I understand that many hawkers were left destitute as a result of the recent flood?
THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS replied as follows:-
Most of the silt within the Tai Hang area had been cleared
by the end of last week.
The Public Works Department is currently undertaking the reconstruction of Brown Street, King Street and portions of Shepherd Street and Ormsby Street. In order to reduce inconvenience to members of the public the work is being done in three stages, and only about one third of the area will be closed at any one time. The hawkers affected have been re-sited temporarily in Wun Sha Street.
MR. BERNACCHI:-As Chairman of the Hawkers Select Committee, may I ask whether this petition has been brought to the attention of the Hawkers Select Committee?
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.