THE Government would not identify another site for recreation for domestic helpers who crowded Central on weekends, said the Secretary for Planning, Environment and Lands, Mr Tony Eason.
Responding to Mr Martin Barrow, Mr Eason said: ''The removal of one type of user in a particular area would not necessarily result in the area not being used by other people, and would therefore not necessarily have an effect on the problem.'' It was estimated that a quarter of the 80,000 Filipino domestic helpers in the territory used the Central area, he said.
''It is clear that a large number of them are using other areas, and there is no impediment placed upon those who use the Central areas if they prefer to do so,'' Mr Eason said Earlier, Mr Eason clashed with Mr Barrow who had asked whether the Government would suggest any other sites around Hongkong to help disperse the crowd.
''I do not think that it would be appropriate for this administration to introduce, or to be seen as contemplating, any form of ethnic cleansing in this area on Sundays,'' Mr Eason said.
The indignant legislator quickly rose to clarify his point, which he said was to find the necessary space for domestic helpers.
Mr Eason apologised for having misunderstood his implications.
