1969 — Page 186

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the oversized stalls have all been reduced to the legal standard size. This operation was voluntarily conducted by the stall owners themselves after the illegal hawkers had been removed from the area. As a result of these operations, pedestrians and vehicles can now flow easily in these streets and cleansing operation can now also be conducted. It must, however, be said that a large number of hawkers who have left those streets are now trading successfully in the new Tin Chiu Hawker Bazaar.

MR. P. F. CHAN:-Mr. Chairman, may I thank Mr. LOBO through you for his reply. I have no supplementaries.

(6) MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:

(a) Can the Commissioner for Resettlement advise this Council how many more people are awaiting resettlement as of the end of November, 1969?

(b) Within how many years is the Resettlement Programme expected to be completed?

(c) In which year will it be possible for the Resettlement Department to embark upon a large-scale programme to increase the living accommodation for residents in the older resettlement estates so that they can enjoy a minimum of 35 square feet per person?

THE COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT replied as follows:-

Sir, eligibility for resettlement is restricted to squatters on land required for development or to families that fall within any other of the priority categories for resettlement. In accordance with present policy the resettlement programme will continue as long as there is land to be cleared of squatters for development and as long as there is a demand for accommodation by other persons in the priority categories. None of these persons could properly be described as awaiting resettlement; nor is it possible to forecast how long the programme will continue nor the number of people that will ultimately be resettled. With regard to the third part of the question, there is at present a programme of decantation designed to improve the living standards of all overcrowded resettlement tenants. Discussions are in hand as to the best method of accelerating this programme but I cannot say when it will be possible to put this into effect.

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MR. CHEONG-LEEN: ----Mr. Chairman, what is the latest estimate of the number of squatters?

COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-The latest estimate is 330,000 squatters, approximately, in the urban areas. I must, however, point out, Mr. Chairman, that this question is, I would say, strictly out of order, as squatters in themselves are not eligible for resettlement and could not be described as awaiting resettlement.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, what is the approximate number of squatters who are in the priority categories?

COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-That is very difficult to say. All I can say is that the estimate of the number of people who are due to be resettled in the next five years includes approximately 100,000 squatters.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN: --Over the next five years a total of 100,000, Mr. Chairman? Could that figure be confirmed? Did not the Housing Board, Mr. Chairman, have another figure as to the total number of squatters who could be cleared over the next five years, and how does this relate to the building programme for Resettlement Estates over the next five years?

COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-Sir, there is another figure in the Housing Board Report, but that includes the total number of people that the building programme is designed to provide for, apart from actual squatters; it includes compassionate cases, those affected under the rents in advance scheme, turnover of licensed areas and, of course, accommodation made available for the relief of overcrowding.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-So, if according to the Commissioner for Resettlement, Mr. Chairman, there are about 100,000 squatters in the urban areas, are there indications that within the next few years the 100,000 squatters can be resettled completely?

COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT: —I am afraid I am not with Mr. CHEONG-LEEN when he refers to the 100,000 squatters. The total number of squatters in the urban areas is about 330,000 squatters.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Then, why does the building programme indicate that only 100,000 squatters will be resettled?

COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-That refers, Sir, to those who are estimated to fall within the resettlement priority categories, that is that they are on land that will be required for development.

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