72
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MINUTES.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Kowloon
Page 44 of 118
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The Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 3rd May, 1960, were confirmed.
PAPERS.
THE CHAIRMAN laid upon the table the following paper:-
Report of the work of the Urban Council and Urban Services Department for the month of May 1960.
QUESTIONS.
Mr. A. de O. SALES asked the following question:
"(a) Will the Chairman please state whether the Urban Services Department has adequate staff and equipment to carry out its functions properly in Kowloon?
(b) Is the Department satisfactorily organized to provide exactly the same services on both sides of the harbour?”
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:-
"This question concerns equality of treatment for Kowloon in the matter of Urban Services Department activities. Problems are different in that Hong Kong is more hilly and has some very old streets and buildings. Kowloon is more modern and better planned but has greater complications from squatters and resettlement. There are, for instance, a quarter of a million more residents in Kowloon resettlement areas than in their Hong Kong counterparts. Population figures are not known exactly but births and deaths statistics over the last few months indicate that the figure for all Kowloon including the resettlement areas may be as much as 50% higher than Hong Kong. The department will be most interested in the figures of the 1961 census.
The relative breakdown of the Urban Services Department establishment, excluding cleansing and hygiene staff on the establishment of the Resettlement Department, is approximately as follows:
Hong Kong Kowloon Cleansing 2,833 3,794 Amenities and General 1,202 498 Hygiene 309 283 A total of... 4,344 4,575118 vehicles are based in the Hong Kong Garage and 87 in the Kowloon Garage. Most of the refuse collecting vehicles in Kowloon are, however, Dennis Paxits with a capacity up to 50% greater than the smaller vehicles necessarily used in Hong Kong. Most stores and Gardens vehicles are also based in Hong Kong.
As regards the disparity between the figures in Amenities and General, it should be pointed out that the Hong Kong figures include the Hawker Control Force, which is in process of recruitment, staff for two multi-storey car parks, eleven island beaches (only one in Kowloon), Botanical Gardens, Victoria Park and swimming pool, and more numerous Government compounds.
As regards the disparity between the figures for Hygiene, I would mention that there are 83,921 floors in Hong Kong and 2,098 more in Kowloon, i.e., 24% more. The relative figures for Health Inspectors are 79 in Hong Kong and 72 in Kowloon. The size and distribution of Health Districts in Kowloon is currently under examination and will be rectified as need arises and staff are available.
I think that you will therefore agree that Kowloon receives equality of treatment and possibly even more favourable treatment, taking into account its better layout and planning, and in general the modernity of its buildings.
The above really answers your question (b). Your question (a) presupposes a smugness and complacency on the part of the department which is quite foreign to it. The department does not intend to sit back and say that conditions in any part of the Urban Area are satisfactory. There is always room for improvement and the same can be said equally for both Hong Kong and Kowloon. All I am prepared to say is that the staff and equipment are adequate to maintain present standards for the time being but that development of new areas and the continual increase of population will necessitate expansion of staff and equipment in the future."