HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. Peter C. K. CHAN:-Sir, the matter we have now discussed has already been considered by the Resettlement Select Committee, and also by the Committee of the Whole Council. Since it is raised in the form of a motion, I have something to say.
I have no doubt that the mover of the motion was earnest in trying to help some people whose welfare is the concern of his and of this council as a whole.
We will be failing our duty if we do not endeavour to look into the question most carefully and try to be as helpful as possible.
Let us try to examine other aspects of the proposition before considering the merits and demerits of the motion.
1. We are entrusted with the duties of managing the Resettlement Estates and it is our paramount duty to ensure good and effective management of the Estates and to ensure a certain standard of living that is designed for the particular Estates.
Old Estates built in the early 50s are quite different from the New Estates built in late 60s or early 70s, so are their respective standard of living environment.
Shopkeepers in squatter areas can be equally good shopkeepers in the old estates. But experience has taught us many things about shops and shop-tenants in the old estates, as mentioned by Mrs. ELLIOTT.
I myself have come across many shop-tenants who do not regard themselves as tenants, they sometimes regard themselves as landlords, and our old policy entrenched this incorrect belief because they can transfer their shops to other Resettlement tenants (even of other estates). Some of them even rent out their shops using documents like employment contracts with the exorbitant rent paid under the term of guaranteed profit such as employing a manager and the manager guaranteeing the boss a certain amount of profit. A lot of money has gone to these tenants which could well be utilized to improve the environmental and management standard of the estates concerned.
2. I am all for helping the underprivileged as a whole, and I will continue to fight for the underprivileged with all my resources as long as I am in public service. But it must be on fair and just principles. I don't mean the principle must be fair and just to the privileged (they can look after themselves, as they always do). Whatever we endeavour to do to help the underprivileged, it must be for the underprivileged as a whole. We cannot and should not create a privileged class among the underprivileged.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
167
In a society like ours, with our strong economy, we should feel ashamed of ourselves that so many people among our midst are still living in huts that are exposed to all kinds of dangers (typhoon, rainstorm, landslide, fire etc.) besides the appalling unhealthy living environment. I have no hesitation whatsoever to advocate that they should be resettled right away.
But we have to consider carefully whether we should treat the people who happen to trade in their huts (with trading areas of 50 or more square feet) as privileged class by giving them the exclusive right to do business in our new estates to the exclusion of the other 4 million people in Hong Kong? Of course we all know that shop tenants get domestic resettlement as well.
They will lose the chance of continuing their small business after their huts are demolished, but they will be paid compensations as agreed upon by the former Joint Resettlement Committee under the distinguished Chairmanship of the mover of this motion before Council.
As the rates of compensation ($6,000 to $20,000) as mentioned by Mrs. ELLIOTT were fixed almost two years ago when the money was worth more, I am in favour of raising the rate to a more realistic level so as to cope with the rising cost of starting a small business concern. It has always been and still is, our intention to assist these people to rehabilitate themselves into small business and we should not deviate from this well-founded principle.
With the amount of compensation being well utilized, I believe a substantial number of these shopkeepers in squatter area can be successful in our new tender system and will re-establish their small new business in the new estates. Beside the wide publicity in getting all people aware of the tender when it takes place, I have requested the Resettlement Department to endeavour to inform all the ex-shopkeepers who have already received the compensation of the news of any tenders that may interest them when the time comes. They are as eligible for the tender as anyone else, and they have (at least should have) the ready cash out of the compensation. There will be a substantial number of small shops that will attract their interest. There will be larger designated business that may not suit them. It would not be right to ask them to run banks, clinics etc. but they are the essentials in the new estates, as they are further away from town, compared with old estates like Shek Kip Mei and Lei Cheng Uk.
3.
At the same time, a small and restricted number of people eligible to tender for the shop, would probably not truly reflect the real value of the shops being tendered for. But with the tender being opened to all, the true value will definitely be reflected.
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. Peter C. K. CHAN:-Sir, the matter we have now discussed has already been considered by the Resettlement Select Committee, and also by the Committee of the Whole Council. Since it is raised in the form of a motion, I have something to say.
I have no doubt that the mover of the motion was earnest in trying to help some people whose welfare is the concern of his and of this
council as a whole.
We will be failing our duty if we do not endeavour to look into the question most carefully and try to be as helpful as possible.
Let us try to examine other aspects of the proposition before con- sidering the merits and demerits of the motion.
1. We are entrusted with the duties of managing the Resettlement Estates and it is our paramount duty to ensure good and effective management of the Estates and to ensure a certain standard of living that is designed for the particular Estates.
Old Estates built in the early 50s are quite different from the New Estates built in late 60s or early 70s, so are their respective standard of living environment.
Shopkeepers in squatter areas can be equally good shopkeepers in the old estates. But experience has taught us many things about shops and shop-tenants in the old estates, as mentioned by Mrs. ELLIOTT.
I myself have come across many shop-tenants who do not regard themselves as tenants, they sometimes regard themselves as landlords, and our old policy entrenched this incorrect belief because they can transfer their shops to other Resettlement tenants (even of other estates). Some of them even rent out their shops using documents like employment contracts with the exorbitant rent paid under the term of guaranteed profit such as employing a manager and the manager guaranteeing the boss a certain amount of profit. A lot of money has gone to these tenants which could well be utilized to improve the environmental and management standard of the estates concerned.
2. I am all for helping the underprivileged as a whole, and I will continue to fight for the underprivileged with all my resources as long as I am in public service. But it must be on fair and just principles. I don't mean the principle must be fair and just to the privileged (they can look after themselves, as they always do). Whatever we endeavour to do to help the underprivileged, it must be for the underprivileged as a whole. We cannot and should not create a privileged class among the underprivileged.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
167
In a society like ours, with our strong economy, we should feel ashamed of ourselves that so many people among our midst are still living in huts that are exposed to all kinds of dangers (typhoon, rainstorm, landslide, fire etc.) besides the appalling unhealthy living environment. I have no hesitation whatsoever to advocate that But we have to consider they should be resettled right away. carefully whether we should treat the people who happen to trade in their huts (with trading areas of 50 or more square feet) as privileged class by giving them the exclusive right to do business in our new estates to the exclusion of the other 4 million people in Hong Kong? Of course we all know that shop tenants get domestic resettlement as well.
They will lose the chance of continuing their small business after their huts are demolished, but they will be paid compensations as agreed upon by the former Joint Resettlement Committee under the distinguished Chairmanship of the mover of this motion before Council.
As the rates of compensation ($6,000 to $20,000) as mentioned by Mrs. ELLIOTT were fixed almost two years ago when the money was worth more, I am in favour of raising the rate to a more realistic level so as to cope with the rising cost of starting a small business concern. It has always been and still is, our intention to assist these people to rehabilitate themselves into small business and we should not deviate from this well founded principle.
With the amount of compensation being well utilized, I believe a substantial number of these shopkeepers in squatter area can be successful in our new tender system and will re-establish their small new business in the new estates. Beside the wide publicity in getting all people aware of the tender when it takes place, I have requested the Resettlement Department to endeavour to inform all the ex-shopkeepers who have already received the com- pensation of the news of any tenders that may interest them when the time comes. They are as eligible for the tender as anyone else, and they have (at least should have) the ready cash out of the compensation. There will be a substantial number of small shops that will attract their interest. There will be larger designated business that may not suit them. It would not be right to ask them to run banks, clinics etc. but they are the essentials in the new estates, as they are further away from town, compared with old estates like Shek Kip Mei and Lei Cheng Uk.
3.
At the same time, a small and restricted number of people eligible to tender for the shop, would probably not truly reflect the real value of the shops being tendered for. But with the tender being opened to all, the true value will definitely be reflected.
Page 93 of 206
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