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immunity and where most people live in constant fear of attack without the Police doing anything about it.
The correct picture is that the incidence of crime in our estates is proportionately much lower than that outside the estates.
In fact, less than 10 per cent of the Colony's crimes last year happened in the estates, which house one-quarter of Hong Kong's population.
The Police inform us that the 10 per cent proportion also applies to major crimes like robbery, homicide and rape.
Figures for these three crimes for the whole of last year are: three rape cases in the estates as compared with 45 outside; 407 robberies in estates as compared with 5,146 outside and 12 homicide cases as compared with 98.
In Tsz Wan Shan, the Colony's biggest estate with a population of 140,000, the figures are: nil, 18 and 2 respectively.
What I have just said should not be interpreted as meaning that we must be satisfied with the position. We cannot afford to be complacent where the security and welfare of one million people are concerned. We hope that the Police will continue to strive to reduce even further the incidence of crime in our estates.
This will in turn depend to some extent upon closer liaison and co-operation between estate residents and the Police, particularly in the immediate reporting of crimes as soon as they occur.
We know there are plans afoot for the provision of more Police stations and sub-stations nearer the estates.
At present, Police divisional stations are situated in the vicinity of Kwun Tong, Wong Tai Sin, Shek Kip Mei, Pak Tin, Tai Hang Tung, Tai Wo Hau and Yuen Long estates.
Two Police posts have been set up at Chai Wan and Tsz Wan Shan Estates. In addition, more mobile police posts located in Shek Lei and Ngau Tau Kok Estates, and according to Police Headquarters, each estate is policed by mobile and beat patrols in the same manner as other built-up areas in Hong Kong.
As regards future provisions, a new Police divisional station is planned for Kwai Chung district and sub-divisional stations covering Chai Wan, Ngau Tau Kok, Sheung Kwai Chung, Tsz Wan Shan and Sau Mau Ping are being planned.
When completed these divisional and/or sub-divisional stations will be within easy reach of existing resettlement estates in the respective districts.
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425
In the meantime, Police reporting centres are planned for large and outlying estates such as Shek Lei, Sau Mau Ping, Lam Tin and Ngau Tau Kok as well as for smaller estates such as Lo Fu Ngam, all of which are some distance away from existing divisional or sub-divisional stations.
Finally, we expect that policing arrangements in resettlement estates will be kept under constant review to meet prevailing circumstances.
QUESTIONS.
(1) MRS. E. ELLIOTT asked the following question :-
(a) Is it correct that the residents of some blocks in Tung Tau Estate have had bathroom doors fitted on a trial basis, and that these tenants have sent their comments on them to the Resettlement Department?
(b) When will action be taken to replace the bathroom doors on other blocks in that estate?
(c) Is it planned to do the same for all the older estates, and if so, when?
THE COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT replied as follows:-
The Works Division of my Department has recently made various improvements in one bathroom in each of six blocks at Tung Tau Estate, on an experimental basis, and in response to requests made by a tenants' organization. These improvements comprise a heavy external door to the bathroom, fitted with peephole and bolt; three-quarter-length metal doors for each of the seven compartments; and the installation of seven showers and a water tap in each bathroom. Normally the water has to be brought from a tap outside the bathroom, which is clearly a most inconvenient arrangement.
The tenants have commented favourably on these improvements, but suggested certain minor changes which are being made.
Funds have been sought in our 1972-73 Estimates to make similar improvements in all the other bathrooms in Tung Tau Estate, and the estimated cost of doing this in 21 blocks is $250,000. I might mention here that the same improvements will be made in all the women's toilets at Tung Tau at a cost of about $113,000.
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i
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immunity and where most people live in constant fear of attack without the Police doing anything about it.
The correct picture is that the incidence of crime in our estates is proportionately much lower than that outside the estates.
In fact, less than 10 per cent of the Colony's crimes last year happened in the estates, which house one-quarter of Hong Kong's population.
The Police inform us that the 10 per cent proportion also applies to major crimes like robbery, homicide and rape.
Figures for these three crimes for the whole of last year are: three rape cases in the estates as compared with 45 outside; 407 robberies in estates as compared with 5,146 outside and 12 homicide cases as com- pared with 98.
In Tsz Wan Shan, the Colony's biggest estate with a population of 140,000, the figures are: nil, 18 and 2 respectively.
What I have just said should not be interpreted as meaning that we must be satisfied with the position. We cannot afford to be complacent where the security and welfare of one million people are concerned. We hope that the Police will continue to strive to reduce even further the incidence of crime in our estates.
This will in turn depend to some extent upon closer liaison and co-operation between estate residents and the Police, particularly in the immediate reporting of crimes as soon as they occur.
We know there are plans afoot for the provision of more Police stations and sub-stations nearer the estates.
At present, Police divisional stations are situated in the vicinity of Kwun Tong, Wong Tai Sin, Shek Kip Mei, Pak Tin, Tai Hang Tung, Tai Wo Hau and Yuen Long estates.
Two Police posts have been set up at Chai Wan and Tsz Wan Shan Estates. In addition, more mobile police posts located in Shek Lei and Ngau Tau Kok Estates, and according to Police Headquarters, each estate is policed by mobile and beat patrols in the same manner as other built-up areas in Hong Kong.
As regards future provisions, a new Police divisional station is planned for Kwai Chung district and sub-divisional stations covering Chai Wan, Ngau Tau Kok, Sheung Kwai Chung, Tsz Wan Shan and Sau Mau Ping are being planned.
When completed these divisional and/or sub-divisional stations will be within easy reach of existing resettlement estates in the respective districts.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
425
In the meantime, Police reporting centres are planned for large and outlying estates such as Shek Lei, Sau Mau Ping, Lam Tin and Ngau Tau Kok as well as for smaller estates such as Lo Fu Ngam, all of which are some distance away from existing divisional or sub- divisional stations.
Finally, we expect that policing arrangements in resettlement estates will be kept under constant review to meet prevailing circumstances.
QUESTIONS.
(1) MRS. E. ELLIOTT asked the following question :-
(a) Is it correct that the residents of some blocks in Tung Tau Estate have had bathroom doors fitted on a trial basis, and that these tenants have sent their comments on them to the Resettlement Department?
(b) When will action be taken to replace the bathroom doors
on other blocks in that estate?
(c) Is it planned to do the same for all the older estates, and
if so, when?
---
THE COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT replied as follows:-
The Works Division of my Department has recently made various improvements in one bathroom in each of six blocks at Tung Tau Estate, on an experimental basis, and in response to requests made by a tenants' organization. These improvements comprise a heavy external door to the bathroom, fitted with peephole and bolt; three-quarter- length metal doors for each of the seven compartments; and the installation of seven showers and a water tap in each bathroom. Normally the water has to be brought from a tap outside the bathroom, which is clearly a most inconvenient arrangement.
The tenants have commented favourably on these improve- ments, but suggested certain minor changes which are being made.
Funds have been sought in our 1972-73 Estimates to make similar improvements in all the other bathrooms in Tung Tau Estate, and the estimated cost of doing this in 21 blocks is $250,000. I might mention here that the same improvements will be made in all the women's toilets at Tung Tau at a cost of about $113,000.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.