1983 — Page 144

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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

fire fighting facilities, and unsatisfactory resettlement policies in respect of residents living in squatter areas to be cleared are problems from which squatters are suffering.

In recent years, squatter areas have experienced several big fires. Housing Department and certain organizations have had disputes over the question of resettlement arrangements for fire victims, as a result of which the government and the departments concerned now have a better understanding about this issue. However, the progress made is very limited because of shortage of manpower, poor management and the fact that the jurisdiction amongst the different government departments is not well defined.

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For example, the Squatters Control Division will not take the trouble to clear the site of refuse after demolishing an illegal structure. On receipt of complaint, the Division will give a reply saying that the responsibility Lands Department after the demolition. On the other hand, Lands Department will say that the department is only responsible for land resumption and that Housing Department should be held responsible for the disposal of refuse following the demolition. Housing Department will then maintain that the clearance of refuse is within the jurisdiction of Urbco. Urbco, however, is only responsible for daily cleansing work; it is not Urbco's duty to clear away huge quantities of refuse that appear suddenly. So the complaint will be referred to the District Board. In this way, the different departments pass the buck around, delaying settlement of the problem. As another example, after a squatter fire or a landslide, it is likely that not a single government department will come out to take up the responsibility of clearing the site affected and disposing of junks piled up on hill-slopes or beside nullahs even after a period of over one year has elapsed.

According to an announcement by Housing Department, a sum of $300 million will be spent over a period of five years to provide environmental improvement facilities for about 90,000 squatters. But Hong Kong's squatter population numbers about 600,000. I wonder when all of them can eventually get assistance from the authorities to effect improvement.

Housing Department has built fire barriers for a few larger squatter areas, but there are still insufficient environmental improvements. There are currently about 300 squatter areas in Hong Kong and Kowloon. When will the smaller squatter areas be provided with better and substantial environmental improvement facilities?

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Stabilizing dangerous slopes is also very important to improving the environment of squatters. The losses of lives and property consequent upon landslides that took place on 18th June 1972 after a rainstorm left permanent memories in our minds. The disaster inflicted on Hoi Pong Village, Mount Davis, in September 1983 by Typhoon Ellen was also due to landslip. The authorities should take immediate steps to stabilize dangerous slopes that pose threats to the residents and disclose the locations of these dangerous slopes so that the residents may take precautionary measures at times of rainstorms.

Provision of mains water supply and drainage systems are improvement measures most welcomed by squatters. However, squatters wishing to install separate water meters for their squatter huts must go through very complicated procedures. Applicants must wait for over 2 years after submitting their applications. Such a state of affair really makes the residents feel that the Water Supplies Department is not very keen to improve the squatters' living conditions.

Urbco pays much attention to the protection of environmental hygiene, sparing no effort in carrying out daily cleansing duties, collecting refuse and promoting the Clean Hong Kong Campaign. The achievements made are most evident. People from all walks of life and various government departments also offer their support. In my opinion, Urbco should play a more active role in improving the environment of squatter areas than other government departments so that squatters can benefit from it in the long run. Construction of refuse collection points, public lavatories and public bath-houses, dredging of silted drainage channels, elimination of pests, crack-down on unlicensed siu mei factories, and resumption of crown land occupied by junks for the purpose of building children's playgrounds are measures which Urbco can take to improve services to squatters.

Our Council recently discussed a trial scheme on employing private contractors to collect refuse for squatter areas in the Eastern District. I strongly support the idea and now urge the Council to take immediate steps to consult the residents, seek their co-operation, and expedite the call for tenders. In order to solve problems arising from the accumulation of refuse in the district, this Council should take up the duty of implementation and supervision. The scheme should eventually be extended to every squatter area.

I personally heard a well-known person saying that Urbco had provided too many services for squatters, that the accumulation of refuse and poor environmental conditions should be attributed to the residents' lack of civic spirit and that Urbco, already fully engaged, should not provide them with more services.

I entirely disagree with what that well-known person said. It is meaningless to add to the perfection of things already perfect, but on the contrary, it is worthwhile to make a timely effort to solve or improve issues in want of urgent assistance or solutions. The accumulation of refuse does not come by nature. However, we should not just complain about people's lack of civic spirit and make no effort to find solutions or ways to effect improvement.

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