HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. BERNACCHI:-But it has always been my appreciation of the situation that the Resettlement Policy Select Committee gives advice to the Commissioner for Resettlement in these matters.
CHAIRMAN:-This is probably true, Mr. BERNACCHI. I am merely drawing attention to the fact.
MRS. ELLIOTT:-Mr. Chairman, may I add that the majority of these cases are connected with Resettlement Management, because they are being evicted from Resettlement Estates.
MR. C. K. CHAN:-Mr. Chairman, can the Commissioner for Resettlement inform the Council whether there is a policy of the Resettlement Department to satisfy himself whether a person is genuinely homeless. His staff normally ask for the Social Welfare Department's report and the report's recommendation will be invariably followed.
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-Not in every case.
MR. C. K. CHAN:-Well, in that case, can this point be referred to the Resettlement Committee to see whether this should be the case?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-I thought that this matter was vested in me, Sir.
(7) MRS. C. J. SYMONS asked the following question:-
What progress has been made since the Annual Conventional Debate as a result of careful examination by the Urban Services Department for the creation of a physical recreation unit staffed by qualified personnel to complement the work of the Education Department? If no progress has been made, may I ask why?
THE RECREATION AND MR. A. de O. SALES, CHAIRMAN OF AMENITIES SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows:-
An initial meeting to explore the desirability and feasibility of establishing a Physical Recreation section in the Urban Services Department was held on February 10th between representatives of the Urban Services, Education and Social Welfare Departments. As was reported to the Recreation and Amenities Select Committee at its last meeting, a very considerable amount of information is still required from the departments concerned before the Urban Services Department is in a position to make any firm recommendations although it is agreed that it would be advantageous for the department to have such a section. I have been assured that, since a start has now been made, further examination of this proposal will be pushed ahead with as little delay as possible. The Select Committee has made it clear that a report is required at the next meeting as it is many years since the need for such staff was first raised.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MRS. SYMONS:-Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank Mr. SALES for his reply. May I have your assurance, though, that this very important matter will not be left in abeyance for another few years?
CHAIRMAN: I am sure Mr. SALES won't let that happen, Mrs. SYMONS. (Laughter).
MR. SALES:-Mr. Chairman, you very cleverly evaded the question. Mrs. SYMONS' question was whether you, as Director of Urban Services Department, would be dilatory, not I. (Laughter).
MRS. SYMONS:-Mr. SALES has taken the point well, Mr. Chairman.
(8) MR. SOLOMON RAFEEK asked the following question:-
Tenants in Kowloon resettlement estates frequently work in Hong Kong, and vice versa. Many have told me how inconvenient this is. A number have asked me to enquire if there is a possibility of swopping flats, so that tenants can live near their work, so contributing to an easing of traffic and a saving of time. They feel that a notice permitting swopping on a voluntary basis between two parties will bring beneficial and immediate results. Can such a notice be considered?
MR. HENRY H. L. HU, CHAIRMAN OF THE RESETTLEMENT MANAGEMENT SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows:-
It has long been the practice of the department to allow exchanges of rooms between tenants of the same estate or different estates on a voluntary basis. If a tenant has already made contact with another tenant to exchange rooms with him, the parties may approach the estate office concerned to obtain approval for the exchange. If a tenant wishes to exchange his room for one in another estate but cannot himself find anyone in the proposed estate, he can apply to his estate office. The request will then be sent to the office of the estate requested where a notice will be put up advertising the proposed exchange.
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MR. BERNACCHI:-But it has always been my appreciation of the situation that the Resettlement Policy Select Committee gives advice to the Commissioner for Resettlement in these matters.
CHAIRMAN:-This is probably true, Mr. BERNACCHI. I am merely drawing attention to the fact.
MRS. ELLIOTT:-Mr. Chairman, may I add that the majority of these cases are connected with Resettlement Management, because they are being evicted from Resettlement Estates.
MR. C. K. CHAN:-Mr. Chairman, can the Commissioner for Resettlement inform the Council whether there is a policy of the Reset- tlement Department to satisfy himself whether a person is genuinely homeless. His staff normally ask for the Social Welfare Department's report and the report's recommendation will be invariably followed.
COMMISSIONER for ResetTLEMENT:--Not in every case.
MR. C. K. CHAN:-Well, in that case, can this point be referred to the Resettlement Committee to see whether this should be the case?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-I thought that this matter was vested in me, Sir.
(7) MRS. C. J. SYMONS asked the following question:-
What progress has been made since the Annual Conventional Debate as a result of careful examination by the Urban Services Department for the creation of a physical recrea- tion unit staffed by qualified personnel to complement the work of the Education Department? If no progress has been made, may I ask why?
THE RECREATION AND MR. A. de O. SALES, CHAIRMAN OF AMENITIES SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows:-
An initial meeting to explore the desirability and feasibility of establishing a Physical Recreation section in the Urban Services Department was held on February 10th between representatives of the Urban Services, Education and Social Welfare Departments. As was reported to the Recreation and Amenities Select Committee at its last meeting, a very considerable amount of information is still required from the departments concerned before the Urban Services Department is in a position to make any firm recommendations although it is agreed that it would be advantageous for the department to have such a
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
447
section. I have been assured that, since a start has now been made, further examination of this proposal will be pushed ahead with as little delay as possible. The Select Committee has made it clear that a report is re- quired at the next meeting as it is many years since the need for such staff was first raised.
MRS. SYMONS: -Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank Mr. SALES for his reply. May I have your assurance, though, that this very important matter will not be left in abeyance for another few years?
CHAIRMAN: I am sure Mr. SALES won't let that happen, Mrs. SYMONS. (Laughter).
MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, you very cleverly evaded the question. Mrs. SYMONS' question was whether you, as Director of Urban Services Department, would be dilatory, not I. (Laughter).
MRS. SYMONS:----Mr. SALES has taken the point well, Mr. Chairman.
(8) MR. SOLOMON RAFEEK asked the following question:-
Tenants in Kowloon resettlement estates frequently work in Hong Kong, and vice versa. Many have told me how in- convenient this is. A number have asked me to enquire if there is a possibility of swopping flats, so that tenants can live near their work, so contributing to an easing of traffic and a saving of time. They feel that a notice permitting swopping on a voluntary basis between two parties will bring beneficial and immediate results. Can such a notice be considered?
MR. HENRY H. L. HU, CHAIRMAN OF THE Resettlement MANAGE- MENT SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows:-
It has long been the practice of the department to allow exchanges of rooms between tenants of the same estate or different estates on a voluntary basis. If a tenant has already made contact with another tenant to exchange rooms with him, the parties may approach the estate office concerned to obtain approval for the exchange. If a tenant wishes to exchange his room for one in another estate but cannot himself find anyone in the proposed estate, he can apply to his estate office. The request will then be sent to the office of the estate requested where a notice will be put up advertising the proposed exchange.
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