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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
DR. A. M. S. BELL asked the following question
"I understand that "Fa Hui" has been cleared of the drying grounds which were put there by the Public Works Department after the fire to prevent squatting, and that only a few squatters remain on the area. Would the Chairman please say when the area can be made into a Public Park as was planned?"
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows :—
"Provision of funds for this project has been made in the Estimates for the coming financial year submitted to Government. If this is approved, then working drawings will be proceeded with and tenders called for. I am, however, unable to give a definite date for possible completion of the contract.”
DR. A. M. S. BELL asked the following question :
"Is the Chairman aware of the enormous amount of rubbish, orange peel and the like which is extremely unsightly and offensive in smell, in the water alongside the Star Ferry Promontory at its junction with Connaught Road? Can something be done to prevent this or to clear it away at frequent intervals ?”
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:
"I am aware of the presence in the harbour from time to time of tidal refuse consisting largely of vegetable matter, but I cannot agree that any particularly offensive odour emanates from it.
In a harbour which accommodates such a vast floating population, it is only natural that such a problem should arise and I am quite certain there are no harbours in the world which are free from it.
As a result of representations made by me to the Director of Marine and the Marine Police towards the end of last year, the staff of the three departments have been vigilant to detect offenders who dump refuse indiscriminately into the harbour, and several prosecutions have already been made.
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I should like to emphasize firstly that there is little or no health risk due to the sterilizing effect of sea water on vegetable matter, and secondly that the tidal refuse is almost invariably dispersed by changes in tide and current. The provision of a collecting boat would effect little improvement, would be costly, and would only serve to achieve something which would otherwise be dealt with satisfactorily in due course by natural forces.
I am however conscious of the distasteful sight of this rubbish and as the harbour is the responsibility of the Marine Department, I will bring your question to the notice of the Director, with the request that he once again stress to the users of the harbour the importance of proper rubbish disposal."
DR. BELL:--A supplementary on that one. The part of the harbour which I refer to is a part which tourists very often will see when they step across the harbour on the Star Ferry. It is one particular corner. I wonder if it would be possible particularly to draw the attention of the Director of Marine to that particular part.
CHAIRMAN:-Yes, with pleasure, Dr. Bell, if you will kindly show us exactly which area. I am not sure where it is.
DR. BELL :--I described it in my question. It is the junction of the Star Ferry promontory with Connaught Road.
CHAIRMAN: -I will be very happy to bring that to the notice of the Director of Marine.
MR. SALES :—A supplementary question, Mr. Chairman. I have listened to your answer with the greatest of interest. May I also enlist your support the next time the annual Cross Harbour Race is swum?
CHAIRMAN:-With pleasure!
DR. P. F. Woo asked the following question
"Will the Chairman please advise whether or not the Urban Council or Government proposes to have a Stadium built in Kowloon ?"
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