Page 24 of 242
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Yan Yee Village, Hong Ning Road in Kwun Tong, and Kowloon Bay are living?
Is it correct that these squatters were told they would be
resettled in about two years?
What has been done to improve their living conditions and
make them safer?
When are they likely to be resettled?
THE COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT replied as follows:-
The Licensed Areas referred to in this question are Class II Licensed Areas, excepting that there is small portion at Kowloon Bay, which has been set aside as a Class I Licensed Area. These Licensed Areas were established in accordance with the provisions of Part VA of the Resettlement Ordinance Cap. 304. The occupants are lawful licensees; they are not squatters.
In reply to the first part of the question, I am to state that I am aware that the internal drains and surface channels are frequently choked by rubbish thrown indiscriminately by the occupants, and the wooden planks placed by some of them across these drains, coupled with the unsatisfactory design of certain drains and channels, make clearing rather difficult. Such accumulation of household refuse in the drains and elsewhere do create insanitary conditions. The cleansing staff of the Urban Services Department, posted to maintain cleansing and sanitary services, clear these drains twice daily. Adequate communal dustbins are provided for the storage of refuse pending collection, but these are seldom used by the occupants. Household refuse is simply disposed of into the drains. I have drawn the attention of the Urban Services Department to this unsatisfactory state of affairs and I understand that appropriate steps are being taken by that department to employ its Health Education Unit and anti-litter squads in educating the occupants in their civic responsibilities.
On my part, I have instructed my Works Division staff to improve the design of the drains and channels and to maintain them in a good state of repair where necessary in order to facilitate the work of the cleansing labourer. I hope the measures adopted will improve conditions generally but, should they prove to be unsuccessful, it would appear there is a case to review the existing manning scale of cleansing staff so that the frequency of sweeping in these areas may be increased.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
29
(Mrs. C. J. SYMONS and Mr. LO Tak-shing left at this point).
The huts are built by the licensees with fire-resistant materials on properly formed sites, and fire hydrants and fire lanes are provided in accordance with the advice of the Fire Services Department. Their heights are restricted as a precautionary measure against typhoons. If specific reasons are given to the officer in charge that a hut might be in danger, arrangements would be made for technically qualified officers to inspect it and appropriate safety measures would be taken. However, this very seldom happens, since safety is one of the major factors taken into account when sites for Licensed Areas are selected.
My reply to the second part of this question is that persons in Class II Licensed Areas are not included in the approved priority categories for resettlement and are not told that they will be resettled at any particular date. People in the approved priority categories may be allocated sites in Class I Licensed Areas if suitable resettlement accommodation is not immediately available, and, if so, they may be given some indication as to when suitable resettlement accommodation is expected to be available.
My answer to the third part of Mrs. ELLIOTT's question is included in my reply to the first part, and my answer to the fourth part in my reply to the second part.
MR. PETER C. K. CHAN:- Mr. Chairman, I refer to paragraph 2 of the answer, "in reply to the first part I am to state that drains and surface channels are frequently choked because of the unsatisfactory design of drains and channels making clearing rather difficult". Is this design and the building of drains and channels by the Works Division of the Resettlement Department or by the Public Works Department?
(Mr. Peter P. F. CHAN left at this point).
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:- They are built by the licensees themselves.
MR. C. K. CHAN:- Perhaps you know in this respect that Public Works Department assist just a little bit, just minor assistance, in this matter. Perhaps you know the habit?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:- I have instructed my Works Division staff to assist where necessary.
Page 24 of 242
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Page 24 of 242
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Yan Yee Village, Hong Ning Road in Kwun Tong, and Kowloon Bay are living?
Is it correct that these squatters were told they would be
resettled in about two years?
What has been done to improve their living conditions and
make them safer?
When are they likely to be resettled?
THE COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT replied as follows:-
The Licensed Areas referred to in this question are Class II Licensed Areas, excepting that there is small portion at Kowloon Bay, which has been set aside as a Class I Licensed Area. These Licensed Areas were established in accordance with the provisions of Part VA of the Resettlement Ordinance Cap. 304. The occupants are lawful licensees; they are not squatters.
In reply to the first part of the question, I am to state that I am aware that the internal drains and surface channels are frequently choked by rubbish thrown indiscriminately by the occupants, and the wooden planks placed by some of them across these drains, coupled with the unsatisfac- tory design of certain drains and channels, make clearing rather difficult. Such accumulation of household refuse in the drains and elsewhere do create insanitary con- ditions. The cleansing staff of the Urban Services Department, posted to maintain cleansing and sanitary services, clear these drains twice daily. Adequate com- munal dustbins are provided for the storage of refuse pending collection, but these are seldom used by the occupants. Household refuse is simply disposed of into the drains. I have drawn the attention of the Urban Services Department to this unsatisfactory state of affairs and I understand that appropriate steps are being taken by that department to employ its Health Education Unit and anti-litter squads in educating the occupants in their civic responsibilities.
On my part, I have instructed my Works Division staff to improve the design of the drains and channels and to maintain them in a good state of repair where necessary in order to facilitate the work of the cleansing labourer. I hope the measures adopted will improve conditions generally but, should they prove to be unsuccessful, it would appear there is a case to review the existing man- ning scale of cleansing staff so that the frequency of sweeping in these areas may be increased.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
29
(Mrs. C. J. SYMONS and Mr. LO Tak-shing left at this point).
The huts are built by the licensees with fire resistant materials on properly formed sites, and fire hydrants and fire lanes are provided in accordance with the advice of the Fire Services Department. Their heights are restricted as a precautionary measure against typhoons. If specific reasons are given to the officer in charge that a hut might be in danger, arrangements would be made for technically qualified officers to inspect it and appropriate safety measures would be taken. However, this very seldom happens, since safety is one of the major factors taken into account when sites for Licensed Areas are selected.
My reply to the second part of this question is that persons in Class II Licensed Areas are not included in the approv- ed priority categories for resettlement and are not told that they will be resettled at any particular date. People in the approved priority categories may be allocated sites in Class I Licensed Areas if suitable resettlement accom- modation is not immediately available, and, if so, they may be given some indication as to when suitable re- settlement accommodation is expected to be available.
My answer to the third part of Mrs. ELLIOTT's question is included in my reply to the first part, and my answer to the fourth part in my reply to the second part.
MR. PETER C. K. CHAN:-Mr. Chairman, I refer to paragraph 2 of the answer, "in reply to the first part I am to state that drains and surface channels are frequently choked because of the unsatisfactory design of drains and channels making clearing rather difficult". Is this design and the building of drains and channels by the Works Division of the Resettlement Department or by the Public Works Department?
(Mr. Peter P. F. CHAN left at this point).
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-They are built by the licensees themselves.
MR. C. K. CHAN:-Perhaps you know in this respect that Public Works Department assist just a little bit, just minor assistance, in this matter. Perhaps you know the habit?
COMMISSIONER for ResettlEMENT:—I have instructed my Works Division staff to assist where necessary.
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