§ Mr. Fisherasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what are the scope, cost and estimated completion dates of the new housing, hospital and road projects now being developed in Hong Kong.
§ Mrs. HartThe following information is in respect only of Government projects:
Housing
By the 1st April, 1967, accommodation for 870,000 persons had been constructed in multi-storey resettlement estates and for 80,000 persons in Government low-cost housing estates. Schemes at present under construction will provide for an additional 595,000 persons in resettlement estates and for 131,000 persons in Government low-cost housing estates, at a total estimated cost of £31¼ million. These schemes are expected to be completed during the next five or six years. There are, in addition, subsidised 215W housing schemes under the Hong Kong Housing Authority and the Hong Kong Housing Society.
Hospitals
Major additions to two existing general hospitals are now under construction and are expected to be completed by mid-1969. They will provide more than 1,100 additional beds at an estimated cost of just over £1 million. A site is being formed for a 1,320 bed general hospital which is expected to be completed in 1972 at an estimated cost of £2,400,000.
Roads
Four major road projects are now under construction:—
- (1) a two-lane tunnel and associated roads linking Kowloon with Sha Tin is due for completion this year at an estimated cost of £1,300,000;
- (2) a six-lane bridge and associated road works will provide a fast direct link between Kowloon and Tsuen Wan at an estimated cost of £1,440,000. The bridge is due for completion in late 1968 and the associated road complex by the end of 1969;
- (3) on Hong Kong Island a six-lane road along the waterfront, two miles long, will provide a fast direct route between the Central District and North Point. The cost is estimated at £1,560,000 and the expected completion date is 1970;
- (4) road improvements in the Central District of Hong Kong are expected to be completed by 1970 at an estimated cost of £687,000.
In addition, 94 smaller road schemes are in hand in the Colony and are expected to be completed before 1970 at a total estimated cost of £14,300,000.
§ Mr. Fisherasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs to what extent water is now rationed in Hong Kong; whether any reply has yet been received from China to the request for additional supplies of water; and whether rationing and dependence upon China will be unnecessary when the Plover Cove supplies become available at the end of this year.
§ Mrs. HartWith effect from 13th July the general water supply has been restricted to four hours every fourth day. Industrial areas and standpipes will receive a four hour daily supply wherever possible: resettlement areas with communal water supplies will receive a four hour supply on alternate days.
No reply has yet been received from China to the request for additional supplies of water during July and August.
216WOn completion of the Plover Cove scheme next year Hong Kong will, with normal rainfall, still require assistance from China to maintain a 24 hour supply throughout the year, but a limited daily supply could be maintained without water from China even in periods of drought.
§ Mr. Fisherasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs if he will state the total export and import trade figures for Hong Kong during the first six months of this year, as compared with last year, the percentage increase or decrease in these figures since the disturbances began in the colony, and the corresponding figures of United Kingdom trade with Hong Kong in the same periods.
§ Mrs. HartThe following is the required information:
HONG KONG TRADE FIGURES (To nearest £ million) January-June, 1966 January-June, 1967 Increase or decrease on 1966 figures Domestic exports … 160 189 +29 Re-exports … 51 71 +20 Imports … 286 341 +55
TRADE BETWEEN UNITED KINGDOM AND HONG KONG (Figures available only up to end May, 1967) January-May 1966 January-May 1967 Increase or decrease on 1966 figures Domestic exports to United Kingdom 25 27 +2 Re-exports to United Kingdom .95 .75 -.2 Imports from United Kingdom 25 28 +3 It is too early as yet to make comparisons which would give any useful indication of the possible effect of the disturbances upon trade. However, total Hong Kong domestic exports, re-exports and imports for June, 1967, showed increases or decreases on the figures for May, 1967, of +2.8 per cent.,+21.7 per cent. And -1.8 per cent. respectively.