HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
recommendation is embodied in the Housing Board's latest report which is awaiting the approval of the Governor-in-Council.
As to the remaining parts of the question, the present quota for domestic resettlement on compassionate grounds is 700 families or 3,000 persons a year. This quota is laid down by the Urban Council, and is shared by the Social Welfare Department, the Medical Department and Hay Ling Chau. The qualifications for domestic resettlement on compassionate grounds are determined by the Social Welfare Department in consultation with the other bodies concerned, in line with the needs of their clients and the quota available. I have no doubt that if the quota was increased it would be possible to relax the qualifications for compassionate resettlement, but I understand it is likely that there would have to be some considerable increase in the quota (i.e. that it should be doubled or trebled) if a really significant relaxation in the qualifications were to be achieved.
MR. HU:-Mr. Chairman, I would like the Commissioner for Resettlement to confirm that in the 1964 White Paper there is no such thing as Class II licensed areas?
ACTING COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-Mr. Chairman, this is correct. What we now call Class II licensed areas, in the 1964 White Paper, were called transit centres.
MR. HU:—Mr. Chairman, probably you could confirm that last year the question of Class II areas was brought up by me because of the June rainstorm in which many people lost their lives. Is this correct?
CHAIRMAN: --This is correct, Mr. Hu. Are you asking a supplementary on the original question?
MR. HU-Yes, and I would ask what measures have been taken by us now, we are already in May, on those huts which really have the potentiality of being destroyed by future rainstorms, to alleviate the dangers which must come to those people?
CHAIRMAN: --The question, strictly speaking, is out of order, Mr. Hu.
MR. HU:-The question is, Mr. Chairman, that those people are still living in the Class II licensed area. I understand the present policy is that those people are not entitled to be resettled in any event. Is that correct? Unless the area is needed for redevelopment.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
ACTING COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:--Yes, Mr. Chairman, I think I have already stated that they are not entitled to be resettled unless the area is needed for redevelopment or, under the new proposal, until we require to turn the area over and resettle the occupants.
MR. HU:-Could the Commissioner for Resettlement tell us when the new proposal can be enforced?
ACTING COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-Mr. Chairman, as I have already stated, it is embodied in the Housing Board's latest report which is awaiting approval by the Governor-in-Council.
MR. BERNACCHI:-The Housing Board was designed to liaise with Resettlement, Housing Authority and Low Cost Housing, surely the question of turnover of Class II areas is a matter for this Council, not the Housing Board?
ACTING COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-Mr. Chairman, as far as I recollect it was first approved by the Resettlement Policy Select Committee before being submitted to the Housing Board.
MR. HU: Mr. Chairman, I would ask if a hut in a Class II licensed area was destroyed by a rainstorm, could the inhabitants be resettled or not?
ACTING COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-Mr. Chairman, a new policy has recently been approved. The answer to that particular case, I think, in the light of the new policy would be "yes", subject to certain conditions, if the hut were completely destroyed or badly damaged.
MR. HU:--Again, if a person complained to the Resettlement Department saying his hut would be in danger in a rainstorm, what measures would the Resettlement Department take with regard to that complaint?
CHAIRMAN: ----Mr. Hu, you are drifting a little bit from your original question. It is really out of order as well. If you want to ask these questions you must get them on the agenda.
MR. HU:-But, Mr. Chairman, we are now in May, it really will be dangerous for those people who live in a hut. I should think that in June probably a few lives will be lost in any event.
CHAIRMAN: -Mr. Hu, I will get the Commissioner for Resettlement to enlighten you on these matters later.
MR. HU:-Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, I would refer to the third paragraph of the answer to me where it says "that 700 families or 3,000 persons per year could be resettled on compassionate grounds", and ask when was that quota decided?
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recommendation is embodied in the Housing Board's latest report which is awaiting the approval of the Governor-in- Council.
As to the remaining parts of the question, the present quota for domestic resettlement on compassionate grounds is 700 families or 3,000 persons a year. This quota is laid down by the Urban Council, and is shared by the Social Welfare Department, the Medical Department and Hay Ling Chau. The qualifications for domestic resettlement on compas- sionate grounds are determined by the Social Welfare Department in consultation with the other bodies con- cerned, in line with the needs of their clients and the quota available. I have no doubt that if the quota was in- creased it would be possible to relax the qualifications for compassionate resettlement, but I understand it is likely that there would have to be some considerable increase in the quota (i.e. that it should be doubled or trebled) if a really significant relaxation in the qualifications were to be achieved.
MR. HU:-Mr. Chairman, I would like the Commissioner for Resettlement to confirm that in the 1964 White Paper there is no such thing as Class II licensed areas?
ACTING COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-Mr. Chairman, this is correct. What we now call Class II licensed areas, in the 1964 White Paper, were called transit centres.
MR. HU:—Mr, Chairman, probably you could confirm that last year the question of Class II areas was brought up by me because of the June rainstorm in which many people lost their lives. Is this correct?
CHAIRMAN: --This is correct, Mr. Hu. Are you asking a supple- mentary on the original question?
MR. HU-Yes, and I would ask what measures have been taken by us now, we are already in May, on those huts which really have the potentiality of being destroyed by future rainstorms, to alleviate the dangers which must come to those people?
CHAIRMAN: --The question, strictly speaking, is out of order, Mr. Hu.
MR. HU:-The question is, Mr. Chairman, that those people are still living in the Class II licensed area. I understand the present policy is that those people are not entitled to be resettled in any event. Is that correct? Unless the area is needed for redevelopment.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
43
ACTING COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:--Yes, Mr. Chairman, I think I have already stated that they are not entitled to be resettled unless the area is needed for redevelopment or, under the new proposal, until we require to turn the area over and resettle the occupants.
MR. HU:-Could the Commissioner for Resettlement tell us when the new proposal can be enforced?
ACTING COMMISSIONER FOr ResettlemENT:-Mr. Chairman, as I have already stated, it is embodied in the Housing Board's latest report which is awaiting approval by the Governor-in-Council.
MR. BERNACCHI:-The Housing Board was designed to liaise with Resettlement, Housing Authority and Low Cost Housing, surely the question of turnover of Class II areas is a matter for this Council, not the Housing Board?
ACTING COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-Mr. Chairman, as far as I recollect it was first approved by the Resettlement Policy Select Committee before being submitted to the Housing Board.
MR. HU: Mr. Chairman, I would ask if a hut in a Class II licensed area was destroyed by a rainstorm, could the inhabitants be resettled or not?
ACTING COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-Mr. Chairman, a new policy has recently been approved. The answer to that particular case, I think, in the light of the new policy would be "yes", subject to certain conditions, if the hut were completely destroyed or badly damaged.
MR. HU:--Again, if a person complained to the Resettlement Department saying his hut would be in danger in a rainstorm, what measures would the Resettlement Department take with regard to that complaint?
CHAIRMAN: ----Mr. Hu, you are drifting a little bit from your original question. It is really out of order as well. If you want to ask these questions you must get them on the agenda.
MR. HU:-But, Mr. Chairman, we are now in May, it really will be dangerous for those people who live in a hut. I should think that in June probably a few lives will be lost in any event.
CHAIRMAN: -Mr. Hu, I will get the Commissioner for Resettlement
to enlighten you on these matters later.
MR. HU:-Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, I would refer to the third paragraph of the answer to me where it says "that 700 families or 3,000 persons per year could be resettled on compassionate grounds", and ask when was that quota decided?
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