1967 — Page 116

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

ment Policy Select Committee, and it is my understanding that any such decision does not need to be referred to any higher authority. It is up to the Select Committee to ensure that it is implemented.

Now, it should meet the sentiment of the Motion if we were to be identified with its intent by endorsing the sentiment, but for a practical application of what our colleague wants to achieve, I cannot see that we could do better than to tell the Select Committee: "Please study this Motion, if it is in line with your policy, and if it is necessary to increase the number from 700 to any other number, by all means do so." That is the proper procedure to follow. Members of the Housing Authority could likewise, in that Authority, take appropriate measures to introduce a similar procedure. But for us to-day to merely endorse this Motion, which I am sure Mr. Woo has put forward with the best intention in the world, would not give it the practical application that he intends that it should have, unless we refer it to that Select Committee where it should in any case be discussed in order that it might be implemented properly. I would like to see this Motion implemented in that Select Committee, and I would not like to see a waste of time by considering a matter of policy which we all subscribe to in any case. So, I am in support, without in any way prejudicing Mr. Woo's and Mr. BERNACCHI'S Motion, of the Motion to refer to the Select Committee because that is the quickest way of achieving this purpose.

MR. BERNACCHI:-On a point of clarification, compassionate cases must be taken in regard to the overall priority list, and the Policy Select Committee is not entitled just to say, half the resettlement cases are allocated as compassionate cases. The other point of clarification is that, of course, compassionate cases are not necessarily equivalent to housing need and the Motion, as phrased, is "if needed", if they need housing. They may not in fact be compassionate cases within the meaning that the Director of Social Welfare subscribes to compassionate cases.

MR. SALES: May I also clarify my position, Mr. Chairman? Mr. BERNACCHI has played on the words "if needed". Now, if they did not need housing, what is the point of introducing this Motion for resettlement? And, if they were not compassionate cases, then how would they come within the purview of the Director of Social Welfare? Please answer these two questions and speak for the fourth time. (Laughter).

DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE:-Mr. Chairman, may I be allowed to speak on behalf of Mr. BERNACCHI so as to save him having to speak for the fourth time? (Laughter). The quota of compassionate cases is, as Mr. SALES has quite correctly said, at the present moment 700 cases per year. He is also quite correct, and I think Mr. BERNACCHI mentioned this point before, in saying that the quota has not so far in any previous year been fulfilled, but that the Select Committee has nevertheless agreed to raise it on a request being made by me or by my predecessor. I would, on a point of clarification, like to say that I see every prospect of the quota being adequately fulfilled this year as a result of the policy review on the criteria for compassionate resettlement which has directed a much more positive look at the circumstances in which this can be beneficially used for individuals. We are now, I think, above the pro-rata rate for the time of the year, so I may indeed be asking for an additional quota in any case for next year.

Page 117 of 259

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

209

less agreed to raise it on a request being made by me or by my predecessor. I would, on a point of clarification, like to say that I see every prospect of the quota being adequately fulfilled this year as a result of the policy review on the criteria for compassionate resettlement which has directed a much more positive look at the circumstances in which this can be beneficially use for individuals. We are now, I think, above the pro-rata rate for the time of the year, so I may indeed be asking for an additional quota in any case for next year.

As regards the point made about "if needed" and "housing need" there are, of course, a number of factors that we do take into account in recommending cases for compassionate resettlement, and one of them certainly is housing need. Whatever the other circumstances may be, we do require to satisfy ourselves that giving the person resettlement housing will actually serve a useful purpose in the process of rehabilitation, which is the whole object of compassionate resettlement. That is all I wish to say by way of clarification on this point.

MR. BERNACCHI:-By way of clarification, that exactly brings out my point. It is not rehabilitation that this Motion is concerned with, it is purely concerned with housing need, that if they are in need of better housing and willing to accept resettlement, then whether or not they need to be rehabilitated, and I think that the average citizen that is injured, perhaps fortunately, does not need to be rehabilitated, then this Motion gives resettlement to him. Compassionate cases, even though they take housing need as one of the circumstances, take a lot of other circumstances into account and compassionate cases cannot be equated to housing need. This Motion will give the dependants of the persons killed or persons incapacitated and their dependants resettlement if needed.

MR. SALES:-Mr. Chairman, may I suggest that perhaps Mr. BERNACCHI would like to speak for the fifth time (Laughter) and explain to us who introduced the term "rehabilitation"? I do not think it was ever brought up except by Mr. BERNACCHI in his fourth speech.

CHAIRMAN:-I think, perhaps, I should call upon Mr. CHEONG-LEEN. (Laughter).

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, whether or not this Motion is passed as it is on the Order Paper or whether it is referred to the Policy Select Committee as proposed in the amendment, I do not think it makes much difference. It will have to go to the Policy Select Committee anyway, especially since it will be necessary to define in the Resettlement Policy Select Committee what are the conditions of need. However, I am going to support this Motion as it is, and I am not going to support the amendment because this Council, in a greater measure than not, already is in favour of supporting this Motion in the terms in which it has been given on the Order Paper. As Mr. Li Yiu-bor said a little

Page 118 of 259