1969 — Page 42

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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

THE COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT replied as follows:-

There was delay in the completion of some resettlement blocks during the past financial year which affected Ngau Tau Kok and Sau Mau Ping Estates.

The delay in the completion of Ngau Tau Kok Estate meant that the King's Park Cottage Area clearance had to be split into two phases, which in fact fitted in with the wishes of residents. In addition, certain overcrowded families mainly from the western group of estates who had applied to move to Ngau Tau Kok under the decantation programme had their move delayed. A number are moving now and the balance will move when the delayed blocks are available.

As regards Sau Mau Ping Estate, the overall resettlement programme was not materially affected.

MRS. ELLIOTT:- Mr. Chairman, it was very convenient that the failure of the Company to get on with the job fitted in with the wishes of the residents. Can the Commissioner explain why some of these residents came to me and said that it did not fit in with their wishes at all?

COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:- The position in King's Park, Sir, was that we had a petition from the residents there asking that the original clearance date be postponed. Speaking from memory, the original clearance date was March or April or something of that sort. We agreed that this could be done. We then had another petition from residents objecting most strongly to any postponement and asking that the clearance be taken in hand without any further delay. It so happened that some Blocks were available and we were able to provide for the wishes of those who wanted immediate clearance and we were equally able to provide for the wishes of those who wanted it postponed.

MRS. ELLIOTT:- Thank you, Mr. Chairman, may I ask if this sort of failure of contract did not also affect the Tsz Wan Shan and Kwai Chung Estates?

COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:- It did affect the Tsz Wan Shan Estate, but the overall effect on resettlement was negligible, because that was counterbalanced by some other Blocks in Tsz Wan Shan being brought on ahead of schedule.

MRS. ELLIOTT:- Would the Commissioner then admit that the failure at Tsz Wan Shan has held back the decantation programme?

COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:- I do not think it has, because as I say, the other Blocks were available in place of the ones that were delayed.

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

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MRS. ELLIOTT:- I do not want to go off the point, but is it not true that there is a long waiting list of Tsz Wan Shan as a result of this delay?

COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:- I am afraid I cannot answer that one specifically, Mr. Chairman, but suppose that that is not the case. But I really cannot guarantee that that is the correct answer.

MRS. ELLIOTT:- Mr. Chairman, may I apologize to the Commissioner for making him the scapegoat?

(7) MR. PETER C. K. CHAN asked the following question:

Is the Chairman aware that a large signboard indicating Ngau Tau Kok Market is hanging up at a certain area in Ngau Tau Kok which looks nothing like a market?

Can this Council be briefed as to the history of this so-called market and the plan of its development?

MR. R. H. LOBO, CHAIRMAN OF THE MARKETS SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows:-

I am aware of the existence of the large signboard referred to in the question. It does in fact indicate the location of the existing Ngau Tau Kok Market although this is entirely surrounded by structures of various types. The market is a single storey, one-sided structure which was built in 1954 and which consists of six stalls for the sale of meat and fish.

It has long been recognized that this market is quite inadequate for the area, and a new combined market and hawker bazaar is planned for a large site on the other side of Chun Wah Road. This new project will contain 13 fish, meat and poultry stalls together with the necessary ancillary facilities. In addition, there will be some 400 hawker sites. The whole project will be covered with a continuous roof. A contract for site-formation has already been let, with work scheduled to begin in fact today. It is expected that site-formation will be completed by the end of September and that, thereafter, building-work will start and the entire project will be completed by May, 1970.

I would add that the Council's plans for this market were given wide publicity in the newspapers in October last year.

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