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squatters being cleared from the Hong Kong and Whampoa Dock Company's site at Aberdeen.
These boat squatters are not eligible for resettlement but arrangements are being made for them to be offered sites in licensed areas at Aberdeen. The City District Commissioner, Hong Kong, is also considering what can be done to overcome any difficulties they may encounter as a result of the move and is discussing the arrangements with the squatters direct. I should add that Mr. Hu has since asked that the whole question of eligibility for resettlement of boat squatters should be reviewed, and a paper is being prepared accordingly.
MR. HU:-Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, for the last sentence. I just want to ask Mr. ASERAPPA to discuss this question in Select Committee. But I would ask one supplementary to Mr. ASERAPPA. Did he, as I first raised this question in February 1968, did he ever raise this question with the Secretariat?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-It has been discussed at various times in Select Committee in the general review of resettlement. It has certainly been discussed at various times in the Secretariat as well, but the situation at the moment is unchanged.
MR. HU:-I would ask Mr. ASERAPPA if there is a change, please kindly raise this question in Secretariat about this. I also want to remind Mr. ASERAPPA, he said they could be offered sites in licensed areas at Aberdeen. As a matter of fact there are only two licensed areas in Aberdeen; one is Shek Pai Wan, fully occupied; the other is Ap Lei Chau, nobody wants to live there. So, as a matter of fact, there is no actual facility for re-site area in Aberdeen for the 300 to 400 boat families.
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-In fact, Mr. Chairman, we have got additional sites.
MR. HU: Where is that re-site?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-I can show you them, Mr. Hu, sometime or other-they are in the vicinity.
MR. HU: Yes. I think, if I may say so, Mr. Chairman, that there is no need to waste money to establish another new licensed area. Please kindly re-settle the 300 to 400 families of that area.
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-I'll make a note of Mr. Hu's request.
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MR. HU:-I also want to confirm, Mr. Chairman, not only after I first raised this question in February 1968-Mr. John BLAKER, who has been a Member of the Aberdeen Ward also strongly supports the view, which I expressed to the Commissioner.
MR. BERNACCHI : Mr. Chairman, why when they are being cleared from the Hong Kong and Whampoa Dock Company's site at Aberdeen, therefore an organized clearance, are these boat squatters not eligible for resettlement?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-Because boat squatters never have been eligible for resettlement.
MR. BERNACCHI:-Some boat squatters have been resettled in the Aberdeen estate.
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-Not boat squatters as such. They were people formerly occupying boats removed on to land who set themselves up as land squatters.
MR. HU:-As a matter of fact, arising out of Mr. BERNACCHI'S supplementary, I would ask this question-about the Staunton Creek- the boat people in 1965, they were actually offered resettlement in Shek Pai Wan?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-That is correct, Mr. Chairman. That is the case I was referring to. They were no longer afloat. They had moved ashore and set up their boats ashores.
MR. HU:-Would the Commissioner kindly consider that those boat people, as a matter of fact, they are in no way different to the boat people in Staunton Creek, in the year 1965.
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-I think, Mr. Chairman, there is a difference. May I suggest that we leave it to further discussion.
MR. HU:-Thank you very much. I have no further supplementaries.
(10) MR. HENRY H. L. Hu asked the following question:-
In February 1969 a motion was proposed by me to the effect that "This Council shall adopt simultaneous translation in English and Chinese and vice versa in all public meetings by 1970." After debate, it was decided that the Motion should be referred back to the Standing Committee of this Council. Could the Chairman inform the Council if anything has been done concerning simultaneous translation since then?
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squatters being cleared from the Hong Kong and Whampoa Dock Company's site at Aberdeen.
These boat squatters are not eligible for resettlement but arrangements are being made for them to be offered sites in licensed areas at Aberdeen. The City District Com- missioner, Hong Kong, is also considering what can be done to overcome any difficulties they may encounter as a result of the move and is discussing the arrangements with the squatters direct. I should add that Mr. Hu has since asked that the whole question of eligibility for resettlement of boat squatters should be reviewed, and a paper is being prepared accordingly.
MR. HU:-Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, for the last sentence. I just want to ask Mr. ASERAPPA to discuss this question in Select Committee. But I would ask one supplementary to Mr. ASERAPPA. Did he, as I first raised this question in February 1968, did he ever raise this question with the Secretariat?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT: —It has been discussed at various times in Select Committee in the general review of resettlement. It has certainly been discussed at various times in the Secretariat as well, but the situation at the moment is unchanged.
MR. HU:-I would ask Mr. ASERAPPA if there is a change, please kindly raise this question in Secretariat about this. I also want to remind Mr. ASERAPPA, he said they could be offered sites in licensed areas at Aberdeen. As a matter of fact there are only two licensed areas in Aberdeen; one is Shek Pai Wan, fully occupied; the other is Ap Lei Chau, nobody wants to live there. So, as a matter of fact, there is no actual facility for re-site area in Aberdeen for the 300 to 400 boat families.
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-In fact, Mr. Chairman, we have got additional sites.
MR. HU: Where is that re-site?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-I can show you them, Mr. Hu, sometime or other-they are in the vicinity.
MR. HU: Yes. I think, if I may say so, Mr. Chairman, that there is no need to waste money to establish another new licensed area. Please kindly re-settle the 300 to 400 families of that area.
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-I'll make a note of Mr. Hu's
request.
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MR. HU:-I also want to confirm, Mr. Chairman, not only after I first raised this question in February 1968-Mr. John BLAKER, who has been a Member of the Aberdeen Ward also strongly supports the view, which I expressed to the Commissioner.
MR. BERNACCHI : Mr. Chairman, why when they are being cleared from the Hong Kong and Whampoa Dock Company's site at Aberdeen, therefore an organized clearance, are these boat squatters not eligible for resettlement?
COMMISSIONER for ResettlemENT:-Because boat squatters never have been eligible for resettlement.
MR. BERNACCHI:-Some boat squatters have been resettled in the Aberdeen estate.
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-Not boat squatters as such. They were people formerly occupying boats removed on to land who set themselves up as land squatters.
MR. HU:-As a matter of fact, arising out of Mr. BERNACCHI'S supplementary, I would ask this question-about the Staunton Creek- the boat people in 1965, they were actually offered resettlement in Shek Pai Wan?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-That is correct, Mr. Chair- That is the case I was referring to. They were no longer afloat. They had moved ashore and set up their boats ashores.
man.
MR. HU:-Would the Commissioner kindly consider that those boat people, as a matter of fact, they are in no way different to the boat people in Staunton Creek, in the year 1965.
COMMISSIONER for ResettlEMENT:-I think, Mr. Chairman, there is a difference. May I suggest that we leave it to further discussion.
MR. HU:-Thank you very much. I have no further supple- mentaries.
(10) MR. HENRY H. L. Hu asked the following question:-
In February 1969 a motion was proposed by me to the effect that "This Council shall adopt simultaneous translation in English and Chinese and vice versa in all public meetings by 1970." After debate, it was decided that the Motion should be referred back to the Standing Com- mittee of this Council. Could the Chairman inform the Council if anything has been done concerning simulta- neous translation since then?
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.