Page 28 of 237
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
THE ACTING COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT replied as follows:
The answer to the first part of the question is that a clearance was carried out in the Ma Chai Hang area in the early part of 1968 in order to provide firebreaks and also a site for a new licensed area. Some 9,000 domestic squatters were resettled during this clearance, but, because of a shortage of estate shop units, no shop operators were offered shop resettlement. When the clearance was concluded in the middle of the year, about 4,000 - 5,000 squatters were left in the area, including some 90 shops: all the groups remaining contain both domestics and shops. In addition, there are now some 2,500 people living in two licensed areas in this locality, and it is hoped to set aside a third licensed area soon. Of the original 90 shops, 4 have since been given shop resettlement in the course of another clearance in this area for the North Kowloon Secondary Technical School.
As to the second and third parts of the question, it would be most exceptional to clear an area leaving only the shops in situ. In most clearances it is necessary to clear the whole site, in which case shops, if they are entitled, are resettled along with the domestics. However, while the department does and will do its utmost to ensure that shops are cleared along with domestics, it is impossible to give an absolute guarantee on this subject.
MRS. ELLIOTT:- Mr. Chairman, I am not sure whether my question was clear or whether the Commissioner did not quite get the point of it, but does the Commissioner realize that I am concerned about squatters who originally lived in the shops and who were given domestic resettlement while their shops were left in the original site? That means some squatters have to live in Sau Mau Ping and go travelling back to their shops. They also have to leave their shops open to various kinds of dangers in that area which has already been cleared.
ACTING COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:- Mr. Chairman, I did not realize that was the point of the original question. I am a little surprised to hear that this has been happening. I shall be happy to look at this in more detail.
MRS. ELLIOTT:- Mr. Chairman, I am glad that Mr. BISHOP has admitted that he did not quite follow the question, because I think he did not realize the situation. But it is a serious matter, especially in Ma Chai Hang, and I would be glad if he would reply.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
(7) MRS. E. ELLIOTT asked the following question:
What is done for a handicapped person who has been recommended for a fixed pitch licence on welfare grounds when no suitable pitch is available?
MR. R. H. LOBO, CHAIRMAN OF THE HAWKER MANAGEMENT SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows:-
The present practice in such cases is to put the applicant's name on a waiting list which is open to public inspection in the Hawker Licensing Office at all times. As all the names on this waiting list are processed in strict order of priority, it will be appreciated that the waiting period for a suitable site, and one which is acceptable to the applicant, may be considerable. During this period any handicapped person is eligible for such social welfare assistance as may be considered appropriate by the Social Welfare Department.
MRS. ELLIOTT:- Mr. Chairman, may I ask the Chairman of the Hawker Management Select Committee to clarify the point whether or not a widow, say, with six children, gets exactly the same treatment as a singleton on this list?
MR. LOBO:- Until recently, at one time the allocation was through a ballot. Now the system has been changed and has to be on a first come, first served, basis, because it is very difficult to determine which of the cases is the more needy.
MRS. ELLIOTT:- Mr. Chairman, I would say that it would not be difficult to decide which case is needy, because the Social Welfare Department could recommend cases after they have enquired into them. May I ask if this can be referred to the Management Select Committee to see whether some order of priority can be arranged for widows and others in more need than, say, singletons?
MR. LOBO:- We will be happy to look into it, but as I said, it has to be considered with the allocation, and a site which is acceptable to such persons may not be readily available.
MRS. ELLIOTT:- Mr. Chairman, I think you will rule me out of order, but I would like to ask the Director of Social Welfare if he can give us some idea on a priority in dealing with a case of a widow applying for a hawker licence; she has to go on a waiting list and her name may be there for three or four years. How would he help a widow with six children?
DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE:- Mr. Chairman, perhaps I should first say that the recommendations for fixed pitch hawker licences for handicapped people is taken according to a points system, and that
Page 28 of 237
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37
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Page 28 of 237
38
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
THE ACTING COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT replied follows:
as
The answer to the first part of the question is that a clearance was carried out in the Ma Chai Hang area in the early part of 1968 in order to provide firebreaks and also a site for a new licensed area. Some 9,000 domestic squatters were resettled during this clearance, but, because of a shortage of estate shop units, no shop operators were offered shop resettlement. When the clearance was con- cluded in the middle of the year, about 4,000 - 5,000 squatters were left in the area, including some 90 shops: all the groups remaining contain both domestics and shops. In addition, there are now some 2,500 people living in two licensed areas in this locality, and it is hoped to set aside a third licensed area soon. Of the original 90 shops, 4 have since been given shop resettlement in the course of another clearance in this area for the North Kowloon Secondary Technical School.
As to the second and third parts of the question, it would be most exceptional to clear an area leaving only the shops in situ. In most clearances it is necessary to clear the whole site, in which case shops, if they are entitled, are resettled along with the domestics. However, while the department does and will do its utmost to ensure that shops are cleared along with domestics, it is impossible to give an absolute guarantee on this subject.
MRS. ELLIOTT:-Mr. Chairman, I am not sure whether my question was clear or whether the Commissioner did not quite get the point of it, but does the Commissioner realize that I am concerned about squatters who originally lived in the shops and who were given domestic resettlement while their shops were left in the original site? That means some squatters have to live in Sau Mau Ping and go travelling back to their shops. They also have to leave their shops open to various kinds of dangers in that area which has already been cleared.
ACTING COMMISSIONER FOR ResettlemENT:-Mr. Chairman, I did not realize that was the point of the original question. I am a little surprised to hear that this has been happening. I shall be happy to look at this in more detail.
MRS. ELLIOTT:-Mr. Chairman, I am glad that Mr. BISHOP has admitted that he did not quite follow the question, because I think he did not realize the situation. But it is a serious matter, especially in Ma Chai Hang, and I would be glad if he would reply.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
(7) MRS. E. ELLIOTT asked the following question:
39
What is done for a handicapped person who has been recom- mended for a fixed pitch licence on welfare grounds when no suitable pitch is available?
MR. R. H. LOBO, CHAIRMAN OF THE HAWKER MANAGEMENT SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows:-
The present practice in such cases is to put the applicant's name on a waiting list which is open to public inspection in the Hawker Licensing Office at all times. As all the names on this waiting list are processed in strict order of priority, it will be appreciated that the waiting period for a suitable site, and one which is acceptable to the applicant, may be considerable. During this period any handicapped person is eligible for such social welfare assistance as may be considered appropriate by the Social Welfare Department.
MRS. ELLIOTT:-Mr. Chairman, may I ask the Chairman of the Hawker Management Select Committee to clarify the point whether or not a widow, say, with six children, gets exactly the same treatment as a singleton on this list?
MR. LOBO:Until recently, at one time the allocation was through a ballot. Now the system has been changed and has to be on a first come, first served, basis, because it is very difficult to determine which of the cases is the more needy.
MRS. ELLIOTT:-Mr. Chairman, I would say that it would not be difficult to decide which case is needy, because the Social Welfare Department could recommend cases after they have enquired into them. May I ask if this can be referred to the Management Select Committee to see whether some order of priority can be arranged for widows and others in more need than, say, singletons?
MR. LOBO:-We will be happy to look into it, but as I said, it has to be considered with the allocation, and a site which is acceptable to such persons may not be readily available.
MRS. ELLIOTT:-Mr. Chairman, I think you will rule me out of order, but I would like to ask the Director of Social Welfare if he can give us some idea on a priority in dealing with a case of a widow applying for a hawker licence; she has to go on a waiting list and her name may be there for three or four years. How would he help a widow with six children?
DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE:-Mr. Chairman, perhaps I should first say that the recommendations for fixed pitch hawker licences for handicapped people is taken according to a points system, and that
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