1971 — Page 122

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COMMISSIONER

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

FOR RESETTLEMENT:-The Director of Social Welfare and the Director of Medical and Health Services.

MRS. ELLIOTT-Mr. Chairman, may I apologize for troubling the Commissioner but I intend to keep asking this question until we get on to the compassionate cases.

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

(a) How many resettlement rooms are completed and vacant at the present time (excluding empty rooms on older estates)? Where are they?

(b) How many new units are under construction, where are they, and when will they be completed?

(c) How many units will be commenced within the next year (end of 1972), where are they, and when will they be completed?

THE COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT replied as follows:---

The first part of this question concerns the number of vacant rooms in resettlement estates. Members will appreciate that, as a result of the department giving direct resettlement to over 5,000 victims of Typhoon Rose whose homes had been completely destroyed or damaged beyond repair, the vacancy position in estates has substantially changed during the last two weeks. However, a paper setting out the up-to-date vacancy position will be issued to all Members of the Resettlement Policy and Resettlement Management Select Committees later this week.

With regard to the second part of the question, there are at present 57,500 units of 35 sq. ft. each under construction. These are resettlement estate units. The sites are located at Lam Tin Area B, Sau Mau Ping Stage III and Pak Tin. Provided bad weather does not delay works, this accommodation is at present expected to be completed as follows:

Lam Tin Area B 9,000 units by March 1972

and a further 20,000 units by August 1972

Sau Mau Ping Stage III 15,000 units by March 1973

Pak Tin 13,400 units by September 1972

With regard to the third part of the question, between now and December 1972 piling and/or building work is scheduled to commence on three resettlement projects providing some 76,400 units of 35 sq. ft. each. These projects are:-

Hing Wah Estate 27,000 units

Balance of Pak Tin Estate 29,400 units

Chai Wan Area 6 20,000 units

It is not possible to give a firm completion date for these projects at this time but it is hoped that they will be completed by 1976.

MRS. ELLIOTT:-Mr. Chairman, I think it is time for me to dart my questions to the Director of Public Works. May I ask if it is correct from these figures that we are only doing half of the scheduled programme of 100,000 units per year?

DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS:-Mr. Chairman, does this come within the purview of the Council?

CHAIRMAN: ----We are seeking clarification on the present situation.

DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS: -Mr. Chairman, I should like to make clear that the dates given and the times given, the question said "will be commenced", you can't say "carried out" but "will be commenced". But until the Finance Committee have approved funds for starting work you can't even do this. The figures that have been given are what we think will happen or what may happen. As regards this falling short of a target, I think it has been said, time and time again, that these targets must be based on a five-year basis. In addition, however, I think you will find that we are trying to get away from the context of resettlement as resettlement and think of Government housing as Government housing including Government low-cost housing. Your question is specifically related to resettlement and the answer has been given on the basis of resettlement. If we take Government low-cost housing as well, the figure quoted in the last part of the question is again a target, I must admit, because it has to go to Finance Committee, nearer 225,000 units.

MRS. ELLIOTT: -Mr. Chairman, on a point of clarification, I wasn't looking at the end, in the future; I was looking at what is under construction now, by August 1972, by 1972, that's next year, between 1971-72 I reckon it's 42,000.

DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS:-The second part of the question I think was answered by saying there are 57,500 units under construction, is that the part you are referring to?

MRS. ELLIOTT:-Here, "but some of it won't be finished until 1973", that's another two years.

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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL