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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
THE COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT replied as follows:-
The responsibility for social services within the resettlement estates lies with the Departments concerned, that is, the Education Department, the Social Welfare Department, the Medical and Health Department and the Urban Services Department. The Resettlement Department gives what assistance it can by consultation and advice at the planning stage, by allocating premises for these services, by publicizing the facilities that are available, and by recommending any improvements or modifications that may seem to be required.
In the field of hygiene, the department provides cleansing services within each estate, covering the internal corridors, communal latrines and washrooms and courtyards. It also takes an active part in propaganda and in the organization of campaigns designed to promote a higher standard of cleanliness in the estates.
MR. HU: Mr. Chairman, I thank Mr. Aserappa for the answer, but I have a very difficult supplementary to ask of him. Does the Education Department, the Social Welfare Department and the Medical and Health Department, when they decide anything about any matters connected with Resettlement Estates, first consult the Urban Council or not, or reach a decision on their own?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT: I do not think I can answer that question as framed. The Resettlement Department, I think you meant rather than the Urban Council, is in close touch with these Departments. I can't undertake to say that when they take any decision they consult the Resettlement Department.
MR. HU: Do they ever consult the Urban Council when they reach their decision?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT: I am afraid I am not quite sure what Mr. Hu means by the Urban Council in this context, Mr. Chairman.
MR. HU: The Urban Council, I mean the various Select Committees responsible.
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT: These Departments do not consult the responsible committees but, of course, the Select Committees concerned do make recommendations from time to time which affect these other Departments, and the substance of those recommendations is passed on to the Departments concerned.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. HU: Are the Select Committees consulted before the Education Department, Medical and Health Department and Social Welfare Department make their decisions?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT: In that context, no.
MR. BERNACCHI: May I make a personal statement? I remember that the Urban Council was indeed consulted about the proposal by the Medical and Resettlement Departments to stop licensing mobile medical centres in resettlement areas, and instead grant private doctors facilities for holding clinics there.
CHAIRMAN: That would be on the question of the management of the estate and the allocation of space within these estates, Mr. BERNACCHI.
MR. BERNACCHI: Yes, indeed.
CHAIRMAN: Which is within the authority of this Council.
MR. BERNACCHI: Yes, indeed.
(9) MR. HENRY H. L. Hu asked the following question:-
What is the purpose of setting up of Class II Licence areas for "genuinely homeless" citizens of Hong Kong who eventually would not be given resettlement rooms?
THE COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT replied as follows:
The reasons for setting up Class II Licensed Areas are given in detail in paragraphs 6 to 10 of the 1964 White Paper entitled "Review of Policies for Squatter Control, Resettlement and Government Low Cost Housing".
Briefly, the policy before that date made no proper provision for families that were homeless and had no alternative but to become new squatters. Class II Licensed Areas, which were set up as a result of the recommendations made in the White Paper, were designed to assist these families by providing a site where they could legally put up a hut, in a controlled area provided with basic services.
Families in these areas have no priority over tolerated squatters and they are not entitled to resettlement. However, as in the case of tolerated squatters, if the sites they occupy are required for a public purpose, they are offered resettlement.
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Page 163 of 243
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
THE COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT replied as follows:-
The responsibility for social services within the resettlement estates lies with the Departments concerned, that is, the Education Department, the Social Welfare Department, the Medical and Health Department and the Urban Services Department. The Resettlement Department gives what assistance it can by consultation and advice at the plan- ning stage, by allocating premises for these services, by publicizing the facilities that are available, and by recom- mending any improvements or modifications that may seem to be required.
In the field of hygiene, the department provides cleansing services within each estate, covering the internal corridors, communal latrines and washrooms and courtyards. It also takes an active part in propaganda and in the organiza- tion of campaigns designed to promote a higher standard of cleanliness in the estates,
MR. HU-Mr. Chairman, I thank Mr. ASERAPPA for the answer, but I have a very difficult supplementary to ask of him. Does the Education Department, the Social Welfare Department and the Medical and Health Department, when they decide anything about any matters connected with Resettlement Estates, first consult the Urban Council or not, or reach a decision on their own?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT: I do not think I can answer that question as framed the Resettlement Department I think you meant rather than the Urban Council, is in close touch with these Depart- ments. I can't undertake to say that when they take any decision they consult the Resettlement Department.
MR. HU: Do they ever consult the Urban Council when they reach their decision?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-----I am afraid I am not quite sure what Mr. Hu means by the Urban Council in this context, Mr. Chairman.
MR. HU:-The Urban Council, I mean the various Select Com- mittees responsible.
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT: --These Departments do not consult the responsible committees but, of course, the Select Committees concerned do make recommendations from time to time which affect these other Departments, and the substance of those recommendations is passed on to the Departments concerned.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
401
MR. HU: Are the Select Committees consulted before the Educa- tion Department, Medical and Health Department and Social Welfare Department make their decisions?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT: —In that context, no.
MR. BERNACCHI :-May I make a personal statement? I remember that the Urban Council was indeed consulted about the proposal by the Medical and Resettlement Departments to stop licensing mobile medical centres in resettlement areas, and instead grant private doctors facilities for holding clinics there.
CHAIRMAN: --That would be on the question of the management of the estate and the allocation of space within these estates, Mr. BERNACCHI.
MR. BERNACCHI:-Yes, indeed.
CHAIRMAN: -Which is within the authority of this Council.
MR. BERNACCHI:-Yes, indeed.
(9) MR. HENRY H. L. Hu asked the following question:-
What is the purpose of setting up of Class II Licence areas for "genuinely homeless" citizens of Hong Kong who eventually would not be given resettlement rooms?
THE COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT replied as follows:
The reasons for setting up Class II Licensed Areas are given in detail in paragraphs 6 to 10 of the 1964 White Paper entitled "Review of Policies for Squatter Control, Resettle- ment and Government Low Cost Housing".
Briefly, the policy before that date made no proper provision for families that were homeless and had no alternative but to become new squatters. Class II Licensed Areas, which were set up as a result of the recommendations made in the White Paper, were designed to assist these families by providing a site where they could legally put up a hut, in a controlled area provided with basic services.
Families in these areas have no priority over tolerated squatters and they are not entitled to resettlement. However, as in the case of tolerated squatters, if the sites they occupy are required for a public purpose, they are offered resettlement.
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