1970 — Page 209

Urban Council Proceedings 市政局議事錄 All AI Reviewed

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

slow. They have quickened up their process and now the slowness seems to be on the other side.

COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT: ----We are a department; a large machine. If one wheel stops, then the whole machine stops.

MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN:-It seems, Mr. Chairman, that the case referred to by the Commissioner is one case which has been expeditiously handled, that is within a period of a week. Does the Commissioner have any information as to which case took the longest period?

COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-We still have cases outstanding since 1968; in fact we have 20 cases since 1968, 109 cases outstanding since 1969 and 497 cases since 1970.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-To clarify my question again, may I repeat this, does the Commissioner have any information available now as to what is the longest period any particular case during the past year took, for instance, was it one month, two months, three months?

COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-So far as first interviews are concerned, we process them as quickly as possible, depending entirely on the backlog we have in hand, but having interviewed the person doesn't mean he gets an allocation immediately. It takes time because if the client insists on going to Pak Tin, well it is not ready yet.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-I think what the point Mrs. ELLIOTT was trying to get clarified is that from the time that the Social Welfare Department passes on its recommendation up to the time that the party is interviewed, what is the longest period of time in any particular case during the past 12 months?

COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-We have dealt with a total of 5,073 cases involving 22,300 persons over the past 12 years so it is very difficult for me to know the range of time.

MR. BERNACCHI: The Resettlement Policy Select Committee decides a quota allocation for compassionate cases. Now who decides into what individual estate this general quota is divided? According to my recollection it is only in the Hing Wah estate that the Resettlement Select Committee has decided the actual numbers, i.e. in that case, 500.

COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-In the past, the practice has been for the Department to work according to the timetable and the schedule of completion which we receive from the Director of Public Works.

MR. BERNACCHI:-So it is the Department that works it out in accordance with their other commitments, essentially clearance commitments?

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-That is correct.

MRS. ELLIOTT:-Mr. Chairman, I hope you won't rule me out of order but you may do so. Is any effort made to allocate resettlement as near as possible to workplace or convenient place?

COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-That is subject to many other considerations, of course. You know that blocks on Hong Kong Island are running out. In no time there will be no more resettlement blocks and in the near future I don't see any more resettlement blocks in urban Kowloon and even in Kwai Chung there will hardly be any coming forth. The time will come when we will all go to the New Territories, to Castle Peak, or maybe even to Lantau. That is the position. We have a physical problem of finding sites to build resettlement blocks.

MRS. ELLIOTT:-Mr. Chairman, I am not talking about ordinary resettlement, I am talking about compassionate cases.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, could enough advance arrangements be made with Mr. Brook BERNACCHI when the Resettlement Department plans resettlement estates on Lantau? (Laughter).

MR. PETER C. K. CHAN: Mr. Chairman, one final point on this please. If a person needs a place

CHAIRMAN:-No hypothetical cases please.

MR. C. K. CHAN:-No, it is not a hypothetical case. If you want me to shorten it, I will shorten it. If a person is a compassionate case and wants a room and it doesn't matter which estate he is going to be allocated, can the Commissioner for Resettlement assure me that it can be expedited in two weeks or three weeks, if he doesn't mind where he goes?

COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-Of course, subject to a waiting list too. We have received an increasing number from the Director of Social Welfare and as the criteria for compassionate resettlement expand or improve, then we are getting more and more applications. I think priority should be given to those people who came in first. I think the Director of Social Welfare will support me on this point.

CHAIRMAN:-May we move to the next question, please?

(2) MRS. E. ELLIOTT asked the following question:-

Now that the residents of Kowloon Bay are not likely to get resettlement in the foreseeable future, could the Department make a statement on the following requests made by the residents:

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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL slow. They have quickened up their process and now the slowness seems to be on the other side. COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT: ----We are a department; a large machine. If one wheel stops, then the whole machine stops. MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN:-It seems, Mr. Chairman, that the case referred to by the Commissioner is one case which has been expeditiously handled, that is within a period of a week. Does the Commissioner have any information as to which case took the longest period? COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-We still have cases outstanding since 1968; in fact we have 20 cases since 1968, 109 cases outstanding since 1969 and 497 cases since 1970. MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-To clarify my question again, may I repeat this, does the Commissioner have any information available now as to what is the longest period any particular case during the past year took, for instance, was it one month, two months, three months? COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-So far as first interviews are concerned, we process them as quickly as possible, depending entirely on the backlog we have in hand, but having interviewed the person doesn't mean he gets an allocation immediately. It takes time because if the client insists on going to Pak Tin, well it is not ready yet. MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-I think what the point Mrs. ELLIOTT was trying to get clarified is that from the time that the Social Welfare Department passes on its recommendation up to the time that the party is interviewed, what is the longest period of time in any particular case during the past 12 months? COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-We have dealt with a total of 5,073 cases involving 22,300 persons over the past 12 years so it is very difficult for me to know the range of time. MR. BERNACCHI: The Resettlement Policy Select Committee decides a quota allocation for compassionate cases. Now who decides into what individual estate this general quota is divided? According to my recollection it is only in the Hing Wah estate that the Resettlement Select Committee has decided the actual numbers, i.e. in that case, 500. COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-In the past, the practice has been for the Department to work according to the timetable and the schedule of completion which we receive from the Director of Public Works. MR. BERNACCHI:-So it is the Department that works it out in accordance with their other commitments, essentially clearance commitments? HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-That is correct. MRS. ELLIOTT:-Mr. Chairman, I hope you won't rule me out of order but you may do so. Is any effort made to allocate resettlement as near as possible to workplace or convenient place? COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-That is subject to many other considerations, of course. You know that blocks on Hong Kong Island are running out. In no time there will be no more resettlement blocks and in the near future I don't see any more resettlement blocks in urban Kowloon and even in Kwai Chung there will hardly be any coming forth. The time will come when we will all go to the New Territories, to Castle Peak, or maybe even to Lantau. That is the position. We have a physical problem of finding sites to build resettlement blocks. MRS. ELLIOTT:-Mr. Chairman, I am not talking about ordinary resettlement, I am talking about compassionate cases. MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, could enough advance arrangements be made with Mr. Brook BERNACCHI when the Resettlement Department plans resettlement estates on Lantau? (Laughter). MR. PETER C. K. CHAN: Mr. Chairman, one final point on this please. If a person needs a place CHAIRMAN:-No hypothetical cases please. MR. C. K. CHAN:-No, it is not a hypothetical case. If you want me to shorten it, I will shorten it. If a person is a compassionate case and wants a room and it doesn't matter which estate he is going to be allocated, can the Commissioner for Resettlement assure me that it can be expedited in two weeks or three weeks, if he doesn't mind where he goes? COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-Of course, subject to a waiting list too. We have received an increasing number from the Director of Social Welfare and as the criteria for compassionate resettlement expand or improve, then we are getting more and more applications. I think priority should be given to those people who came in first. I think the Director of Social Welfare will support me on this point. CHAIRMAN:-May we move to the next question, please? (2) MRS. E. ELLIOTT asked the following question:- Now that the residents of Kowloon Bay are not likely to get resettlement in the foreseeable future, could the Department make a statement on the following requests made by the residents: Page 210 of 241 398

Baseline (Original)

241 Page 209 of 241 396 HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL slow. They have quickened up their process and now the slowness seems to be on the other side. COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT: ----We are a department; a large machine. If one wheel stops, then the whole machine stops. MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN:-It seems, Mr. Chairman, that the case re- ferred to by the Commissioner is one case which has been expeditiously handled, that is within a period of a week. Does the Commissioner have any information as to which case took the longest period? COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-We still have cases outstand- ing since 1968; in fact we have 20 cases since 1968, 109 cases out- standing since 1969 and 497 cases since 1970. MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-To clarify my question again, may I repeat this, does the Commissioner have any information available now as to what is the longest period any particular case during the past year took, for instance, was it one month, two months, three months? COMMISSIONER for ResettlEMENT:-So far as first interviews are concerned, we process them as quickly as possible, depending entirely on the back log we have in hand, but having interviewed the person doesn't mean he gets an allocation immediately. It takes time because if the client insists on going to Pak Tin, well it is not ready yet. MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-I think what the point Mrs. ELLIOTT was try- ing to get clarified is that from the time that the Social Welfare Depart- ment passes on its recommendation up to the time that the party is inter- viewed, what is the longest period of time in any particular case during the past 12 months? COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-We have dealt with a total of 5,073 cases involving 22,300 persons over the past 12 years so it is very difficult for me to know the range of time. MR. BERNACCHI: The Resettlement Policy Select Committee de- cides a quota allocation for compassionate cases. Now who decides into what individual estate this general quota is divided? According to my recollection it is only in the Hing Wah estate that the Resettlement Select Committee has decided the actual numbers, i.e. in that case, 500. COMMISSIONER for ResettlEMENT:-In the past, the practice has been for the Department to work according to the timetable and the schedule of completion which we receive from the Director of Public Works. MR. BERNACCHI:-So it is the Department that works it out in accordance with their other commitments, essentially clearance com- mitments? HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL COMMISSIONER for RESETTLEMENT:-That is correct. 397 MRS. ELLIOTT:-Mr. Chairman, I hope you won't rule me out of order but you may do so. Is any effort made to allocate resettlement as near as possible to work place or convenient place? COMMISSIONER For ResettlemeNT:--That is subject to many other considerations, of course. You know that blocks on Hong Kong Island are running out. In no time there will be no more resettlement blocks and in the near future I don't see any more resettlement blocks in urban Kowloon and even in Kwai Chung there will hardly be any coming forth. The time will come when we will all go to the New Territories, to Castle Peak, or maybe even to Lantau. That is the position. We have a physical problem of finding sites to build resettlement blocks. MRS. ELLIOTT:-Mr. Chairman, I am not talking about ordinary resettlement, I am talking about compassionate cases. MR. CHEONG-LEEN: -Mr. Chairman, could enough advance arrange- ments be made with Mr. Brook BERNACCHI when the Resettlement Department plans resettlement estates on Lantau? (Laughter). MR. PETER C. K. CHAN: Mr. Chairman, one final point on this please. If a person needs a place CHAIRMAN: -No hypothetical cases please. MR. C. K. CHAN:-No, it is not a hypothetical case. If you want me to shorten it, I will shorten it. If a person is a compassionate case and wants a room and it doesn't matter which estate he is going to be allocated, can the Commissioner for Resettlement assure me that it can be expedited in two weeks or three weeks, if he doesn't mind where he goes? COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-Of course, subject to a wait- ing list too. We have received an increasing number from the Director of Social Welfare and as the criteria for compassionate resettlement expand or improve, then we are getting more and more applications. I think priority should be given to those people who came in first. I think the Director of Social Welfare will support me on this point. CHAIRMAN:-May we move to the next question, please? (2) MRS. E. ELLIOTT asked the following question:- Now that the residents of Kowloon Bay are not likely to get resettlement in the foreseeable future, could the Depart- ment make a statement on the following requests made by the residents:

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241

Page 209 of 241

396

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

slow. They have quickened up their process and now the slowness seems to be on the other side.

COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT: ----We are a department; a large machine. If one wheel stops, then the whole machine stops.

MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN:-It seems, Mr. Chairman, that the case re- ferred to by the Commissioner is one case which has been expeditiously handled, that is within a period of a week. Does the Commissioner have any information as to which case took the longest period?

COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-We still have cases outstand- ing since 1968; in fact we have 20 cases since 1968, 109 cases out- standing since 1969 and 497 cases since 1970.

COMMISSIONER for ResettlEMENT:-So far as first interviews are concerned, we process them as quickly as possible, depending entirely on the back log we have in hand, but having interviewed the person doesn't mean he gets an allocation immediately. It takes time because if the client insists on going to Pak Tin, well it is not ready yet.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-I think what the point Mrs. ELLIOTT was try- ing to get clarified is that from the time that the Social Welfare Depart- ment passes on its recommendation up to the time that the party is inter- viewed, what is the longest period of time in any particular case during the past 12 months?

COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-We have dealt with a total of 5,073 cases involving 22,300 persons over the past 12 years so it is very difficult for me to know the range of time.

MR. BERNACCHI: The Resettlement Policy Select Committee de- cides a quota allocation for compassionate cases. Now who decides into what individual estate this general quota is divided? According to my recollection it is only in the Hing Wah estate that the Resettlement Select Committee has decided the actual numbers, i.e. in that case, 500.

COMMISSIONER for ResettlEMENT:-In the past, the practice has been for the Department to work according to the timetable and the schedule of completion which we receive from the Director of Public Works.

MR. BERNACCHI:-So it is the Department that works it out in accordance with their other commitments, essentially clearance com- mitments?

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

COMMISSIONER for RESETTLEMENT:-That is correct.

397

MRS. ELLIOTT:-Mr. Chairman, I hope you won't rule me out of order but you may do so. Is any effort made to allocate resettlement as near as possible to work place or convenient place?

COMMISSIONER For ResettlemeNT:--That is subject to many other considerations, of course. You know that blocks on Hong Kong Island are running out. In no time there will be no more resettlement blocks and in the near future I don't see any more resettlement blocks in urban Kowloon and even in Kwai Chung there will hardly be any coming forth. The time will come when we will all go to the New Territories, to Castle Peak, or maybe even to Lantau. That is the position. We have a physical problem of finding sites to build resettlement blocks.

MRS. ELLIOTT:-Mr. Chairman, I am not talking about ordinary resettlement, I am talking about compassionate cases.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN: -Mr. Chairman, could enough advance arrange- ments be made with Mr. Brook BERNACCHI when the Resettlement Department plans resettlement estates on Lantau? (Laughter).

MR. PETER C. K. CHAN: Mr. Chairman, one final point on this please. If a person needs a place

CHAIRMAN: -No hypothetical cases please.

COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-Of course, subject to a wait- ing list too. We have received an increasing number from the Director of Social Welfare and as the criteria for compassionate resettlement expand or improve, then we are getting more and more applications. I think priority should be given to those people who came in first. I think the Director of Social Welfare will support me on this point.

CHAIRMAN:-May we move to the next question, please?

(2) MRS. E. ELLIOTT asked the following question:-

Now that the residents of Kowloon Bay are not likely to get resettlement in the foreseeable future, could the Depart- ment make a statement on the following requests made by the residents:

1970 — Page 209

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