1968 — Page 85

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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

150

MR. HU:-Thank you for the answer. My next supplementary concerns natural disasters. Is there any difference in the policy regarding squatters whose huts are entirely destroyed by rainstorms and landslides and those whose huts are only damaged?

COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT: ---In accordance with the present policy, Sir, they are both in the same situation, that is, unless this qualification comes into effect about the family's breadwinner, they are eligible only for re-sites.

MR. HU: Probably this is my last supplementary, could the Commissioner for Resettlement tell us why those people who are only affected by natural disasters are not eligible for direct resettlement. Would that be because we have not sufficient space in the resettlement estates?

COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-There are in fact a number of arguments both in favour and against resettlement in circumstances like this. All I can say I think Sir at this stage is that the policy has been in effect for several years, that it has been reconsidered on several occasions and on each occasion it has been considered that the policy should continue.

MRS. ELLIOTT:-Mr. Chairman, the Commissioner in his first sentence talks about approved policy. May I ask who approved it? I know I'm on the committee and I never approved that policy?

COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-I'm aware that Mrs. ELLIOTT was against this policy, Sir, but, speaking from memory, I believe the Resettlement Policy Select Committee was otherwise in favour.

MR. HU:-May I ask one further supplementary if I may. Is it true that if a person who has already paid to Government $3 per month for 12 months, he has a right, he is entitled to have direct resettlement?

COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-I am not quite sure what Mr. Hu means in this case. If he is referring again to a licensee, he has no right.

MR. HU:-I refer to a licensee.

COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-He has no right to direct resettlement, not by the fact of being a licensee.

MR. HU:-It seems then that a licensee should first pay the licence fee of $9, and besides this, for each month, he should pay $3 licence fee. Now, after he's paid 12 months would he be automatically resettled in resettlement estates?

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

151

COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT: --I think there's a distinction to be drawn here because there are Class I and Class 2 licensed areas. In Class 2 licensed areas there is no, what you call "right", or anything else, to be resettled. Under certain circumstances they might be. In Class 1 licensed areas normally they are resettled within 12 months.

MRS. ELLIOTT:---Mr. Chairman, I'm afraid the Commissioner got around my last question so may I ask another one? Is it true to say that the approved policy so called originated with the Government in a White Paper and not with the Resettlement Policy Select Committee?

COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT: -I'm afraid, Sir, I do not know the history of this matter in full; I believe Mrs. ELLIOTT is correct in what she said, that it did originate with a White Paper. What I meant by the Resettlement Policy Select Committee having approved it was that the Committee has in fact reconsidered it, having been invited to re-examine the policy on several occasions. And again speaking from memory, the Committee has not made any recommendation that the policy should be changed. The Committee as a whole that is.

DR. BELL: Mr. Chairman, as Chairman of the Resettlement Policy Select Committee could I perhaps clarify that a little bit. The position really is that the White Paper lays down the policy which has to be followed. On several occasions, the Resettlement Policy Select Committee members have asked for a review of the policy as it is laid down in the White Paper, but as a general rule when the evidence has been produced for and against changes, there have been so many "againsts" and very few "fors" that inevitably the Committee has had to end up by accepting the policy that is laid down in the White Paper, albeit somewhat reluctantly on many occasions. In this connexion I would mention two changes. One, the question of squatters who are in areas which are not required for future development, they are likely to be squatters for the next hundred years as far as the Resettlement Department is concerned, unless there is a radical change of the policy as laid down in the White Paper. Secondly, in connexion with rooftop squatters, the same situation has arisen, there, with so many reasons given by the Resettlement Department "against" and so few "for"; the removal of all the rooftop squatters. The Resettlement Policy Select Committee is somewhat hamstrung by the White Paper.

MR. BERNACCHI:-I should add, to what the Chairman has said, that the general policy review has been constantly put off, to await the recommendations of the Housing Board. Those recommendations are now out and I hope that the Resettlement Policy Select Committee paper, that the Commissioner says he is preparing, will contain recommendations for a general review of resettlement priorities by the Select Committee.

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Page 85 of 243 HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL 150 MR. HU:-Thank you for the answer. My next supplementary concerns natural disasters. Is there any difference in the policy regarding squatters whose huts are entirely destroyed by rainstorms and landslides and those whose huts are only damaged? COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT: ---In accordance with the present policy, Sir, they are both in the same situation, that is, unless this qualification comes into effect about the family's breadwinner, they are eligible only for re-sites. MR. HU: Probably this is my last supplementary, could the Commissioner for Resettlement tell us why those people who are only affected by natural disasters are not eligible for direct resettlement. Would that be because we have not sufficient space in the resettlement estates? COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-There are in fact a number of arguments both in favour and against resettlement in circumstances like this. All I can say I think Sir at this stage is that the policy has been in effect for several years, that it has been reconsidered on several occasions and on each occasion it has been considered that the policy should continue. MRS. ELLIOTT:-Mr. Chairman, the Commissioner in his first sentence talks about approved policy. May I ask who approved it? I know I'm on the committee and I never approved that policy? COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-I'm aware that Mrs. ELLIOTT was against this policy, Sir, but, speaking from memory, I believe the Resettlement Policy Select Committee was otherwise in favour. MR. HU:-May I ask one further supplementary if I may. Is it true that if a person who has already paid to Government $3 per month for 12 months, he has a right, he is entitled to have direct resettlement? COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-I am not quite sure what Mr. Hu means in this case. If he is referring again to a licensee, he has no right. MR. HU:-I refer to a licensee. COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-He has no right to direct resettlement, not by the fact of being a licensee. MR. HU:-It seems then that a licensee should first pay the licence fee of $9, and besides this, for each month, he should pay $3 licence fee. Now, after he's paid 12 months would he be automatically resettled in resettlement estates? HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL 151 COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT: --I think there's a distinction to be drawn here because there are Class I and Class 2 licensed areas. In Class 2 licensed areas there is no, what you call "right", or anything else, to be resettled. Under certain circumstances they might be. In Class 1 licensed areas normally they are resettled within 12 months. MRS. ELLIOTT:---Mr. Chairman, I'm afraid the Commissioner got around my last question so may I ask another one? Is it true to say that the approved policy so called originated with the Government in a White Paper and not with the Resettlement Policy Select Committee? COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT: -I'm afraid, Sir, I do not know the history of this matter in full; I believe Mrs. ELLIOTT is correct in what she said, that it did originate with a White Paper. What I meant by the Resettlement Policy Select Committee having approved it was that the Committee has in fact reconsidered it, having been invited to re-examine the policy on several occasions. And again speaking from memory, the Committee has not made any recommendation that the policy should be changed. The Committee as a whole that is. DR. BELL: Mr. Chairman, as Chairman of the Resettlement Policy Select Committee could I perhaps clarify that a little bit. The position really is that the White Paper lays down the policy which has to be followed. On several occasions, the Resettlement Policy Select Committee members have asked for a review of the policy as it is laid down in the White Paper, but as a general rule when the evidence has been produced for and against changes, there have been so many "againsts" and very few "fors" that inevitably the Committee has had to end up by accepting the policy that is laid down in the White Paper, albeit somewhat reluctantly on many occasions. In this connexion I would mention two changes. One, the question of squatters who are in areas which are not required for future development, they are likely to be squatters for the next hundred years as far as the Resettlement Department is concerned, unless there is a radical change of the policy as laid down in the White Paper. Secondly, in connexion with rooftop squatters, the same situation has arisen, there, with so many reasons given by the Resettlement Department "against" and so few "for"; the removal of all the rooftop squatters. The Resettlement Policy Select Committee is somewhat hamstrung by the White Paper. MR. BERNACCHI:-I should add, to what the Chairman has said, that the general policy review has been constantly put off, to await the recommendations of the Housing Board. Those recommendations are now out and I hope that the Resettlement Policy Select Committee paper, that the Commissioner says he is preparing, will contain recommendations for a general review of resettlement priorities by the Select Committee. Page 85 of 243 Page 86 of 243 Page 86
Baseline (Original)
Page 85 of 243 1: 150 HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL MR. HU:-Thank you for the answer. My next supplementary concerns natural disasters. Is there any difference in the policy regard- ing squatters whose huts are entirely destroyed by rainstorms and land- slides and those whose huts are only damaged? COMMISSIONER for ResettleMENT: ---In accordance with the pres- ent policy, Sir, they are both in the same situation, that is, unless this qualification comes into effect about the family's breadwinner, they are eligible only for re-sites. MR. HU: Probably this is my last supplementary, could the Com- missioner for Resettlement tell us why those people who are only affected by natural disasters are not eligible for direct resettlement. Would that be because we have not sufficient space in the resettlement estates? COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-There are in fact a number of arguments both in favour and against resettlement in circumstances like this. All I can say I think Sir at this stage is that the policy has been in effect for several years, that it has been reconsidered on several occasions and on each occasion it has been considered that the policy should continue. MRS. ELLIOTT:-Mr. Chairman, the Commissioner in his first sentence talks about approved policy. May I ask who approved it? I know I'm on the committee and I never approved that policy? COMMISSIONER for ResettleMENT:-I'm aware that Mrs. ELLIOTT was against this policy, Sir, but, speaking from memory, I believe the Resettlement Policy Select Committee was otherwise in favour. MR. HU:-May I ask one further supplementary if I may. Is it true that if a person who has already paid to Government $3 per month for 12 months, he has a right, he is entitled to have direct resettlement? COMMISSIONER For ResettlemeNT:-I am not quite sure what Mr. Hu means in this case. If he is referring again to a licensee, he has no right. MR. HU:-I refer to a licensee. COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-He has no right to direct resettlement, not by the fact of being a licensee. MR. HU:-It seems then that a licensee should first pay the licence fee of $9, and besides this, for each month, he should pay $3 licence fee. Now, after he's paid 12 months would he be automatically resettled in resettlement estates? HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL 151 COMMISSIONER for ResettLEMENT: --I think there's a distinction to be drawn here because there are Class I and Class 2 licensed areas. In Class 2 licensed areas there is no, what you call "right", or anything else, to be resettled. Under certain circumstances they might be. In Class 1 licensed areas normally they are resettled within 12 months. MRS. ELLIOTT:---Mr. Chairman, I'm afraid the Commissioner got around my last question so may I ask another one? Is it true to say that the approved policy so called originated with the Government in a White Paper and not with the Resettlement Policy Select Committee? COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT: -I'm afraid, Sir, I do not know the history of this matter in full; I believe Mrs. ELLIOTT is correct in what she said, that it did originate with a White Paper. What I meant by the Resettlement Policy Select Committee having approved it was that the Committee has in fact reconsidered it, having been invited to re-examine the policy on several occasions. And again speaking from memory, the Committee has not made any recommendation that the policy should be changed. The Committee as a whole that is. DR. BELL: Mr. Chairman, as Chairman of the Resettlement Policy Select Committee could I perhaps clarify that a little bit. The position really is that the White Paper lays down the policy which has to be followed. On several occasions, the Resettlement Policy Select Committee members have asked for a review of the policy as it is laid down in the White Paper, but as a general rule when the evidence has been produced for and against changes, there have been so many "againsts" and very few "fors" that inevitably the Committee has had to end up by accepting the policy that is laid down in the White Paper, albeit somewhat reluctantly on many occasions. In this connexion I would mention two changes. One, the question of squatters who are in areas which are not required for future development, they are likely to be squatters for the next hundred years as far as the Resettlement Department is concerned, unless there is a radical change of the policy as laid down in the White Paper. Secondly, in connexion with rooftop squatters, the same situation has arisen, there, with so many reasons given by the Resettlement Department "against" and so few "for"; the removal of all the rooftop squatters. The Resettlement Policy Select Committee is somewhat hamstrung by the white paper. MR. BERNACCHI:-I should add, to what the Chairman has said, that the general policy review has been constantly put off, to await the recommendations of the Housing Board. Those recommendations are now out and I hope that the Resettlement Policy Select Committee paper, that the Commissioner says he is preparing, will contain recom- mendations for a general review of resettlement priorities by the Select Committee. Page 85 of 243 Page 85Page 86 " Page 86 of 243
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150

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

MR. HU:-Thank you for the answer. My next supplementary concerns natural disasters. Is there any difference in the policy regard- ing squatters whose huts are entirely destroyed by rainstorms and land- slides and those whose huts are only damaged?

COMMISSIONER for ResettleMENT: ---In accordance with the pres- ent policy, Sir, they are both in the same situation, that is, unless this qualification comes into effect about the family's breadwinner, they are eligible only for re-sites.

MR. HU: Probably this is my last supplementary, could the Com- missioner for Resettlement tell us why those people who are only affected by natural disasters are not eligible for direct resettlement. Would that be because we have not sufficient space in the resettlement estates?

COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-There are in fact a number of arguments both in favour and against resettlement in circumstances like this. All I can say I think Sir at this stage is that the policy has been in effect for several years, that it has been reconsidered on several occasions and on each occasion it has been considered that the policy should continue.

MRS. ELLIOTT:-Mr. Chairman, the Commissioner in his first sentence talks about approved policy. May I ask who approved it? I know I'm on the committee and I never approved that policy?

COMMISSIONER for ResettleMENT:-I'm aware that Mrs. ELLIOTT was against this policy, Sir, but, speaking from memory, I believe the Resettlement Policy Select Committee was otherwise in favour.

MR. HU:-May I ask one further supplementary if I may. Is it true that if a person who has already paid to Government $3 per month for 12 months, he has a right, he is entitled to have direct resettlement?

COMMISSIONER For ResettlemeNT:-I am not quite sure what Mr. Hu means in this case. If he is referring again to a licensee, he has no right.

MR. HU:-I refer to a licensee.

COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-He has no right to direct resettlement, not by the fact of being a licensee.

MR. HU:-It seems then that a licensee should first pay the licence fee of $9, and besides this, for each month, he should pay $3 licence fee. Now, after he's paid 12 months would he be automatically resettled in resettlement estates?

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

151

COMMISSIONER for ResettLEMENT: --I think there's a distinction to be drawn here because there are Class I and Class 2 licensed areas. In Class 2 licensed areas there is no, what you call "right", or anything else, to be resettled. Under certain circumstances they might be. In Class 1 licensed areas normally they are resettled within 12 months.

MRS. ELLIOTT:---Mr. Chairman, I'm afraid the Commissioner got around my last question so may I ask another one? Is it true to say that the approved policy so called originated with the Government in a White Paper and not with the Resettlement Policy Select Committee?

COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT: -I'm afraid, Sir, I do not know the history of this matter in full; I believe Mrs. ELLIOTT is correct in what she said, that it did originate with a White Paper. What I meant by the Resettlement Policy Select Committee having approved it was that the Committee has in fact reconsidered it, having been invited to re-examine the policy on several occasions. And again speaking from memory, the Committee has not made any recommendation that the policy should be changed. The Committee as a whole that is.

DR. BELL: Mr. Chairman, as Chairman of the Resettlement Policy Select Committee could I perhaps clarify that a little bit. The position really is that the White Paper lays down the policy which has to be followed. On several occasions, the Resettlement Policy Select Committee members have asked for a review of the policy as it is laid down in the White Paper, but as a general rule when the evidence has been produced for and against changes, there have been so many "againsts" and very few "fors" that inevitably the Committee has had to end up by accepting the policy that is laid down in the White Paper, albeit somewhat reluctantly on many occasions. In this connexion I would mention two changes. One, the question of squatters who are in areas which are not required for future development, they are likely to be squatters for the next hundred years as far as the Resettlement Department is concerned, unless there is a radical change of the policy as laid down in the White Paper. Secondly, in connexion with rooftop squatters, the same situation has arisen, there, with so many reasons given by the Resettlement Department "against" and so few "for"; the removal of all the rooftop squatters. The Resettlement Policy Select Committee is somewhat hamstrung by the white paper.

MR. BERNACCHI:-I should add, to what the Chairman has said, that the general policy review has been constantly put off, to await the recommendations of the Housing Board. Those recommendations are now out and I hope that the Resettlement Policy Select Committee paper, that the Commissioner says he is preparing, will contain recom- mendations for a general review of resettlement priorities by the Select Committee.

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