1971 — Page 84

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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

Page 84 of 242

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THE COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT replied as follows:-

I presume the licensed areas referred to in the questions are

Class II licensed areas.

Members will recall that a similar question was raised in the April meeting by Mrs. ELLIOTT. In my reply to the question I assured Members that the Urban Services Department would be taking steps to improve the sanitary conditions in these areas and that this department would take the necessary steps to make good the defective drains and surface channels. Work has now been carried out in a number of the licensed areas by the Works Division of this department since the April meeting. In addition, I would mention that cement-paved paths, and concrete surface channels between rows of licensed area huts, both of which had been hitherto provided by the licensees, are being installed by this department in its new licensed areas, for example, at the Pak Fuk Road Class II licensed area in North Point, and the Sau Mau Ping Class II licensed area in Kwun Tong. The department will con- tinue to take a close interest in the living conditions of licensed areas and will do its best within the framework of established policy and available funds to improve this environment.

sons.

My reply to the second question is that water supply in licensed areas comes from free public standpipes which are pro- vided on a scale of one tap to 500 persons. A recent survey by this department had shown that the average ratio in our licensed areas is roughly one tap to 300 per- The present supply of water to licensed areas has been found in general to be adequate. In general, too, complaints of insufficient water supply have been found to be mainly due to faulty taps; lack of pressure due to illegal connection; and various mechanical faults. The depart- ment is very much aware of these complaints and the reasons for them and has been taking necessary steps to reduce the inconveniences to the minimum. The depart- ment will continue to ensure that the approved ratio is maintained at all times in our licensed areas and that additional stand-pipes will be provided if found necessary. With regard to the third question, the department takes the view that the high cost of installing a supply to licensed areas and the difficulties that are likely to arise with regard to the responsibility for the payment of bills in view of the relatively quick turnover of these areas,

suggest that it would be inadvisable to embark on a policy aimed at having electricity laid on. Certainly, as I under- stand the position, the company referred to will not con- template putting in a supply which, they argue, must be considered temporary in nature, at their own expense.

MRS. ELLIOTT:-Mr. Chairman, may I explain to Mr. TsUI that the reason I brought this up again was that in April I asked him to look for some improvements. Will he please assure his successor that I shall go on asking these questions until we do have improvements? Mr. Chairman, may I now ask the Commissioner for Resettlement if he can explain. He says "the water supply is the specified standard". Can he tell us who specified the standard?

COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT: The standard was specified by the Governor-in-Council.

MRS. ELLIOTT : I wonder if the Governor-in-Council, and his people who make up that Council, have ever tried getting a bath on a hot day with 500 people to one tap. Is that sufficient?

COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT: -I think members will recall that in 1964 when we had droughts, then we had only four hours supply for every four days. People will remember how we could exist with this very small supply of water.

MRS. ELLIOTT:-Mr. Chairman, is it correct that these people living in licensed areas should suffer because in the past we had a ration- ing of water while we may enjoy the luxury of water every day, all day?

CHAIRMAN:---The question is out of order, Mrs. ELLIOTT but, as I have already explained to you, I am taking this matter up with the Commissioner for Resettlement.

MRS. ELLIOTT:—Mr. Chairman, to talk about electricity, I quite agree that it is difficult, with the difficulties in the paragraph, but why can the Government not pay the expense of installing electricity and charge it in rent to the people who are living there?

COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-Mr. Chairman, I am quite prepared to pass the question to my successor and ask him to submit the question to Government.

MRS. ELLIOTT:-Mr. Chairman, may I ask for this to be done quickly because the people in Kowloon Bay for example have lived therefor seven years. Isn't it time they got some facilities?

COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-Mr. Chairman, the residents in the licensed area in Kowloon Bay has changed several times already.