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DR. BELL:-Well, I'm sorry I don't know the answer to that question, but I will certainly find it out and let you know. I will also certainly bring up at the Environmental Hygiene Select Committee your question of mobile vans going around. I think it's a good one.
MR. HU: May I ask a supplementary? May I ask Dr. BELL does her answer also apply to the beaches in Hong Kong?
DR. BELL:-I don't think it does, because it was a question concerning littering the streets.
MR. HU: If you read the original question of Mr. BLAKER "what fines exist for leaving litter in public places in the urban area" it could include beaches in Hong Kong because Shek O, Repulse Bay and Deepwater Bay are within the Ward of Aberdeen and Stanley, therefore I would like to know.
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, I suggest that that supplementary question be answered by the Chairman of the Environmental Hygiene Select Committee who is also a member of the Reform Club, so we'll keep it in the family.
DR. BELL:-Well, I'm sorry Mr. Hu, I cannot tell you from these figures, which I have received from the Department, whether they include fines that have taken place at beaches or not. I haven't had a breakdown of these figures as far as I know and I'm sorry, I can't answer that question. I will find out for you and will let you know.
MR. HU:-Thank you very much.
MR. SALES: Perhaps the Chairman of the Reform Club might wish to-(laughter).
DR. BELL: Mr. Chairman, could I ask a supplementary on the question myself? (Laughter). Could I ask whether the Chairman of the Recreation and Amenities Select Committee would care to work in conjunction with the Environmental Select Committee with regard to play areas, beach areas and recreation areas, especially the picnic areas, within the urban area?
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, we would be delighted-if they are unable to discharge their own responsibilities. (Laughter).
DR. BELL:-Mr. Chairman, I think that calls for a reply and, since I'm answering this, could I say that it isn't a question of “being unable to discharge their own responsibilities", but perhaps these are the dirtiest areas. May I ask question 9. (Laughter).
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
(9) DR. A.M.S. BELL asked the following question:
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(a) Can the Commissioner for Resettlement confirm whether or not any persons were obliged to be removed from any resite areas during the recent typhoon "Shirley” because of danger existing in such sites.
(b) How are resite areas selected?
(c) What steps are taken to ensure that resite areas are in fact located in areas which are not likely to be in danger from landslides, floods or typhoons.
THE COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT replied as follows:
Sir, during typhoon Shirley 429 persons moved from urban licensed areas because of the potential danger. 42 huts in these areas were destroyed or seriously damaged, 16 of which were newly-built but not yet occupied at the time of the typhoon. The damage was in each case caused by the wind.
Licensed areas are selected, in consultation with the departments concerned, as being the most suitable of the sites available: that is that they are in reasonable proximity to build-up areas and that, as far as can be foreseen, they are unlikely to be affected by natural calamities.
Before they are occupied steps and paths within the area are concreted, storm water drains and surface channels are provided and slopes within the area are covered by turf or chunam.
Some flooding has occurred in parts of licensed areas though it has not caused any serious damage. I am now investigating what further steps can be taken to improve the position.
DR. BELL:-Mr. Chairman, could I ask some supplementary questions. Could the Commissioner say how many people altogether in resettlement licensed areas had to be moved during Typhoon "Shirley"?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-Well, I have given the figures of the number of people who have actually moved. This, of course, is the urban areas. I'm not quite sure whether Dr. BELL is referring to Tai Wo Hau as well which, of course, is outside the urban area.
DR. BELL: Well, presumably if it is one of the Resettlement Department's re-site areas I am referring to that. It's a Resettlement Department's re-site area. Some of them I know are in the New Territories, but nevertheless they are the Resettlement Department's re-site area and I wondered whether figures were available of the number that had to be moved.
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
DR. BELL:-Well, I'm sorry I don't know the answer to that question, but I will certainly find it out and let you know. I will also certainly bring up at the Environmental Hygiene Select Committee your question of mobile vans going around. I think it's a good one.
MR. HU: ---May I ask a supplementary? May I ask Dr. BELL does her answer also apply to the beaches in Hong Kong?
DR. BELL:-I don't think it does, because it was a question concerning littering the streets.
MR. HU: If you read the original question of Mr. BLAKER "what fines exist for leaving litter in public places in the urban area" it could include beaches in Hong Kong because Shek O, Repulse Bay and Deepwater Bay are within the Ward of Aberdeen and Stanley, therefore I would like to know.
MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, I suggest that that supplementary question be answered by the Chairman of the Environmental Hygiene Select Committee who is also a member of the Reform Club, so we'll keep it in the family.
DR. BELL:-Well, I'm sorry Mr. Hu, I cannot tell you from these figures, which I have received from the Department, whether they include fines that have taken place at beaches or not. I haven't had a breakdown of these figures as far as I know and I'm sorry, I can't answer that question. I will find out for you and will let you know.
MR. HU-Thank you very much.
MR. SALES: Perhaps the Chairman of the Reform Club might wish to-(laughter).
DR. BELL:---Mr. Chairman, could I ask a supplementary on the question myself? (Laughter). Could I ask whether the Chairman of the Recreation and Amenities Select Committee would care to work in conjunction with the Environmental Select Committee with regard to play areas, beach areas and recreation areas, especially the picnic areas, within the urban area?
MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, we would be delighted-if they are unable to discharge their own responsibilities. (Laughter).
DR. BELL:-Mr. Chairman, I think that calls for a reply and, since I'm answering this, could I say that it isn't a question of “being unable to discharge their own responsibilities", but perhaps these are the dirtiest areas. May I ask question 9. (Laughter).
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
(9) DR. A .M. S. BELL asked following question : -
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(a) Can the Commissioner for Resettlement confirm whether or not any persons were obliged to be removed from any resite areas during the recent typhoon "Shirley” because of danger existing in such sites.
(b) How are resite areas selected?
(c) What steps are taken to ensure that resite areas are in fact located in areas which are not likely to be in danger from landslides, floods or typhoons.
THE COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT replied as follows:
Sir, during typhoon Shirley 429 persons moved from urban licensed areas because of the potential danger. 42 huts in these areas were destroyed or seriously damaged, 16 of which were newly-built but not yet occupied at the time of the typhoon. The damage was in each case caused by the wind.
Licensed areas are selected, in consultation with the depart- ments concerned, as being the most suitable of the sites available: that is that they are in reasonable proximity to build-up areas and that, as far as can be foreseen, they are unlikely to be affected by natural calamities.
Before they are occupied steps and paths within the area are concreted, storm water drains and surface channels are provided and slopes within the area are covered by turf or chunam.
Some flooding has occurred in parts of licensed areas though it has not caused any serious damage. I am now investi- gating what further steps can be taken to improve the position.
DR. BELL:-Mr. Chairman, could I ask some supplementary questions. Could the Commissioner say how many people altogether in resettlement licensed areas had to be moved during Typhoon "Shirley"?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-Well, I have given the figures of the number of people who have actually moved. This, of course, is the urban areas. I'm not quite sure whether Dr. BELL is referring to Tai Wo Hau as well which, of course, is outside the urban area.
DR. BELL: Well, presumably if it is one of the Resettlement Department's re-site areas I am referring to that. It's a Resettlement Department's re-site area. Some of them I know are in the New Territories, but nevertheless they are the Resettlement Department's re-site area and I wondered whether figures were available of the number that had to be moved.
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