Replies to LegCo questions
LCQ2: Existing fishermen villages
Following is a question by the Hon Wong Yung-kan and a written reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works, Dr Sarah Liao (in the absence of the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food), in the Legislative Council today (March 22):
Question:
The Government has granted a number of lands in the New Territories as the sites
for fishermen to build houses and live as a community (fishermen villages). In
this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the existing number of fishermen villages and the location of each
village, the reasons for building the village, the year of its completion and
its present population;
(b) of the number of buildings in each of the fishermen villages, the average
size of such buildings, and the ownership of the lands on which such villages
are located;
(c) of the maintenance projects undertaken by the Government in various
fishermen villages in the past five years, and the total expenditure incurred in
this regard; and
(d) whether rehousing assistance will be offered to villagers in fishermen
villages whose houses are in a dilapidated state or have collapsed?
Reply:
Madam President:
(a) & (b) Details about existing fishermen villages on our records are set out
in Annex.
(c) Under the Rural Public Works (RPW) Programme, the Home Affairs Department
(HAD) has conducted seven improvement projects relating to four fishermen
villages between 2001 to 2005, namely Tsing Yi Fishermen's New Village, Ma Wan
Fishermen's Village, Tap Mun Fishermen's New Village and Luen Yick Fishermen
Village. The expenditure involved was about $2 million. The RPW relating to the
concerned fishermen villages included mainly improvements of the accesses (e.g.
footpath, handrails, paving) to these villages. Furthermore, the Government has
regularly maintained the ancillary common facilities within the various
fishermen villages when necessary. However, we do not keep separate records in
detail about the maintenance works carried out in relation to fishermen
villages.
(d) It has been the long-standing policy of the Government not to let anyone
homeless because of natural disaster or acts of the Government. The Housing
Department would arrange temporary shelter for people who become homeless
because of clearance, natural disasters and emergencies. For parties who are
eligible for rehousing, they could be arranged to move into public housing. For
families who do not meet the eligibility criteria, they may be considered for
rehousing in Interim Housing units to solve their short term housing need. The
above arrangement is also applicable to residents who become homeless as a
result of dilapidation of their fishermen villages or buildings.
Ends/Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Issued at HKT 12:52
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Annex to LCQ2