1970 — Page 35

11

Page 35 of 241

52

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

(9) MR. HENRY H. L. Hu asked the following question:-

Would the Chairman kindly let the Council know whether the Chairman, as the Director of Urban Services Depart- ment, did give orders to lifeguards of our beaches that they should not speak to the press as reported in certain local newspapers? If it is true, then could the Chairman tell us why he should do so?

THE CHAIRMAN, URBAN COUNCIL, replied as follows:-

I do not think that I can do better than quote from the replies to this particular question which were published in the same papers as commented on this matter-namely that an instruction limiting the making of public state- ments to certain more senior officers was issued in May last year by the Recreation and Amenities Division of the Urban Services Department. This instruction was not confined to lifeguards, but applied to all staff in that Division.

The purpose of designating certain more senior officers as spokesmen for the division is to ensure that authoritative information is given to the Press, and also to safeguard junior officers.

MR. HU:-Mr. Chairman, I don't want to embarrass you, but would you kindly confirm that it would serve the public interest if lifeguards could tell reporters about urgent matters such as the appear- ance of sharks or the approach of typhoons, so that the news can be more rapidly spread to the inhabitants of Hong Kong and Kowloon so that they can avoid any disaster.

CHAIRMAN:-I don't know, Mr. Hu, why you read one part of the newspaper but not the later replies which were sent and which made it quite clear that staff could certainly reply to these particular topics you have raised.

MR. HU-I beg your pardon, Mr. Chairman.

CHAIRMAN: -You saw only the questions that were raised by the press about my personally having issued an instruction to staff. I replied, through Mr. BISHOP, to these points raised by the press. I made it quite clear that this did not preclude the staff from talking to members of the press on matters like the sighting of sharks, hoisting the red flag or anything of that nature.

MR. HU:-Thank you very much. I am grateful that you have clarified this point. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have no supple- mentaries now that this point has been clarified. Has anybody else any supplementary? (Laughter).

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

53

MR. SALES: No, the Chairman won't let me accept your invita- tion. (Laughter).

(10) MR. HENRY H. L. HU asked the following question:—

During the last monthly public meeting, i.e. the public meeting of April, 1970, there were 10 questions out of 14 which were concerned with Resettlement matters. Could the Commissioner for Resettlement kindly inform us what steps he has already taken to look into the problems raised in those 10 questions? I would particularly draw his attention concerning the policy that those people who are living in Resite Areas should have the right to be resettled if they put forward their claim on a reasonable basis.

THE COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT replied as follows:-

I must apologize for my absence from the last meeting and being therefore unable to answer Members' queries.

Mr. Hu is principally concerned with the proposals to extend

the present range of eligibility for resettlement.

A paper on this subject will shortly be issued to the members of the Resettlement Policy Select Committee.

On the other queries that were raised, I have written to the Members concerned or issued an explanatory paper to the appropriate Select Committee.

MR. HU:-Mr. Chairman, I should apologize to the Commissioner for Resettlement for asking this question and I think the Commissioner is quite right. I am really concerned about resettling those people who are living in resite areas. May I ask the Commissioner one supplementary only? Did the Commissioner tell this Council some- time ago, he said that, or indicated rather, he said those people who have been living in resite areas for about two years, would probably have priority to be resettled.

COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:—I don't think I said that, Mr. Chairman. The position is that people in resite, in these Class II resite areas, are not eligible for resettlement but they will be resettled if the area is required for permanent development. In fact, permanent development includes turning over the area to make room for new arrivals and in the normal course of events that does occur within two or three years. But it isn't automatic and there is no automatic eligi- bility for resettlement.

Page 35Page 36