1971 — Page 138

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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

Members will recall that at the Annual Public Meeting of the Hong Kong Housing Authority held on 30th September I raised a number of points relating to the future of the Resettlement Department and the Housing Authority.

One of these points had to do with the separating of the division in the Urban Services Department known as the "Housing Division" into an independent Housing Department.

Members will also recall that the Governor in his farewell speech to Legislative Council on 1st October spoke about the possibility of further integration of public housing activities.

I therefore hope that Members of the Urban Council, and partic- ularly those who are on the Joint Policy and Management Resettlement Committees, will give serious thought during the coming weeks to the suggestion of separating the "Housing Division” of the Urban Services Department into a Housing Department.

I think that the views of the Urban Council on this matter should be of some help to the Central Government in formulating its policy on the future integration of public housing activities.

(1) MR. PETER C. K. CHAN asked the following question:-

I understand that it has been agreed by the Cemeteries, Crematoria and Funeral Parlours Select Committee that the Chinese title for the Hung Hom Cemetery Depot (LUXUS [ #BJ) be changed to Hung Hom Public Funeral Hall (HARARE). Can this Council be informed as to when will this decision be implemented by the departments concerned?

MR. RAYMOND Y. K. KAN, CHAIRMAN OF THE CEMETERIES, CREMA- TORIA AND FUNERAL PARLOURS SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows:-

This question concerns the change of the Chinese name of the Hung Hom Cemetery Depot so as to read "Hung Hom Public Funeral Hall" which was agreed by the Cemeteries, Crematoria and Funeral Parlours Select Committee.

An order for new name plates has been made, and I am informed that they will be in position by the end of this week.

(2) MR. PETER C. K. CHAN asked the following question:—

I have received numerous complaints from Yau Tong Estate residents about the burning of rubbish in a big dumping area which I have personally inspected.

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

(a) When will this burning be stopped?

(b) When will the dumping area be resited?

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THE COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT replied as follows:-

I share Mr. CHAN'S concern about this arrangement at Yau Tong, which has been causing a serious nuisance to nearby residents for too long. The material being burned is not rubbish as such, but abandoned crates, boxes, chicken coops and so on. It was originally hoped that all this material could be disposed of in the Lai Chi Kok incinerator but it transpired that the items were too large to be disposed of in this way.

The intention is to discontinue this practice in December this year and instead to take the material to Gin Drinker's Bay for dumping. This will require extra transport and other specialized equipment, for which funds are being sought.

MR. C. K. CHAN:-Mr. Chairman, can't this be done in October or even early November?

COMMISSIONER for RESETTLEMENT:-Mr. Chairman, I would like to say "yes" but I am afraid the answer must be "no". This is because the handling of this material at Gin Drinker's Bay is not simply a matter, and I may have misled you here, of dumping on the ground. It has to be fragmented, broken up and ploughed into the ground at Gin Drinker's Bay and for this the Urban Services Department has to acquire a new bulldozer. This, I am afraid, takes time.

MR. C. K. CHAN:-Mr. Chairman, perhaps you are in a better position to answer this, can't this bulldozer he transferred from Yau Tong to Gin Drinker's Bay or do you need another lorry to transfer the bulldozer from Yau Tong to Gin Drinker's Bay?

CHAIRMAN:-Bulldozers are usually in position at Gin Drinker's Bay for this purpose and also for covering up the rubbish.

MR. C. K. CHAN:-Can you see to it because your Department is more concerned that it will be done even earlier than September?

CHAIRMAN:-I can't promise that.

MR. C. K. CHAN: --December, Can you . can you?

CHAIRMAN: I can't promise, but I will look into it.

MR. A. de O. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, perhaps my Friend Mr. C. K. CHAN wants to give your department more time, he means September 1972. (Laughter).