1967 — Page 104

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

the completion of more school buildings in the estate, is endeavouring to attract as directors people with some experience of school administration, and is taking steps to ensure that sufficient funds will be available when the time comes.

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

Will the Chairman of the Resettlement Management Select Committee be prepared to refer to his Committee:-

(a) The question of reviewing the present range of Education, Welfare and other facilities for young people in resettlement estates and areas, and

(b) that consideration be given to setting up a special sub-committee to review and give further impetus to the special needs of youth in resettlement areas and estates?

MR. LI YIU-BOR, CHAIRMAN OF THE RESETTLEMENT MANAGEMENT SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows:-

It is, of course, open to any member of the Resettlement Management Select Committee to raise these suggestions in the committee at any time.

Members will, however, appreciate that there are two factors which may limit the quantity and range of welfare facilities that can be provided. One is accommodation, and the other is the availability of agencies to supply the facilities required. I am informed that the Resettlement Department is at present reviewing existing welfare facilities in the older estates, the amount of accommodation which they occupy, and the extent to which it is desirable and possible to recover additional accommodation already in use for other purposes. In the light of that review, the Commissioner for Resettlement will be consulting the Director of Social Welfare on the prospects of utilizing additional accommodation and will then refer the whole question to the Resettlement Policy or Resettlement Management Select Committee, or both, as may seem appropriate. I think that discussion of the subject in committee or in a special sub-committee would be more fruitful once that basic information is available.

Members are aware that in the new Mark IV and V estates the ground floors of these 16-storey blocks are not suitable for most welfare activities, since the partition walls between rooms cannot be removed, and that therefore there will be special buildings to accommodate welfare facilities. Nevertheless, those welfare agencies which can operate in a relatively small space are being encouraged to take up some ground floor accommodation as a temporary measure, until the welfare buildings are ready and consistent with the need for shop premises and medical clinics. Members will also be aware, from the Commissioner for Resettlement's reply to an earlier question, that positive encouragement and assistance is being given to Kaifong Welfare Associations to extend their services in all resettlement estates.

In the field of education, it is Government's policy to provide primary schools in resettlement estates at a ratio of approximately one classroom to every 450 residents, and this ratio appears to be satisfactory in practice.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, how soon will the survey referred to in paragraph 2 of the reply be completed?

COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-Perhaps I should answer that question, Mr. Chairman. I am afraid the answer is that I do not know. We will press on with it as quickly as possible along with all our other commitments. I am aware, of course, of the importance of this issue and will give it as much priority as possible.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Has work on this survey been started yet?

COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-Yes.

MR. BERNACCHI:-I notice that the questioner refers to the question of reviewing the present range of education, welfare and other facilities for young people. The answer mentions small welfare establishments in Mark IV and Mark V buildings, consistent with the need for shop premises and medical clinics. Referring again to the question, as I am obliged to do under Standing Orders, I wonder what the facilities are for medical clinics at the moment?

COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-In a number of estates, Mr. Chairman, there are clinics in ground floor premises. There are also over 40, I think it is, so-called mobile vans providing medical services in various estates, and it is Government's policy that these should cease to operate after the end of this year. The Resettlement Policy Select Committee has accepted the proposals that more ground floor premises in all types of estates should be made available for qualified medical practitioners to provide a medical service. A certain number of ground floor premises have already been ear-marked for this purpose, and the rents for them in the Mark IV and V Estates have recently been included under the Rent Schedules in the Resettlement Regulations by

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