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quickly as we hoped, but the cause has not been shortage of architects or a lack of willingness to assist on the part of the Public Works Department.
I do not wish to appear to be saying that a fuss is being made about nothing and that Members should learn to accept delays with stoic indifference. That is not my intention at all. What I am trying to say is that, as far as Block Vote projects are concerned, the engagement of private architects may not be the answer. For projects under the Public Works Programme, Members will be aware that authority has been granted for the greater use of private architects. The Kowloon Tsai park and swimming pool, for instance, are both being planned by private architects. At the suggestion of Members, my friend the Director of Public Works has recently agreed to his Deputy Director (Buildings and Lands) becoming a member of the Urban Amenities Select Committee. I am sure that this will lead to better co-ordination of the programme, with a consequent speeding up of the works.
An early start has been made this financial year and I hope that Members will see a far larger number of projects completed in the coming months.
Dr. Raymond LEE suggested that the immediate neighbourhood of Kai Tak should be beautified, so as to give a good first impression to newly-arrived air travellers. Plans for this purpose have been in hand for some time, but have been held up pending the completion of the Prince Edward Road roundabout. A start has been made on this road junction which will include a pedestrian subway leading to a large traffic island designed as a sitting-out area. The existing Sung Wong Toi rest garden will also be extended, with an additional recreation and sitting-out area. There is also provision in the Public Works Programme for a large recreation and rest area, known as Kai Tak West, opposite the Wong Tai Sin Resettlement Estate.
Dr. LEE recommended also that as a tourist attraction a New Territories village should be developed to give an oriental touch. This suggestion has been passed to the District Commissioner, New Territories, for consideration.
Dr. BELL made a plea for the planting of more flowers in Council parks and playgrounds. I propose to refer this matter to the Urban Amenities Select Committee for consideration, but I would say that I am doubtful whether it is practicable. Quite apart from the possibility of vandalism and the quiet corners of parks are not the same as the few other places where we have successfully planted flowers on a limited scale and under close control-there is the question of getting more staff to run a special nursery and to water and look after widespread flower beds. There is also the difficulty of providing a really satisfactory show of flowers throughout the summer.
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Mr. FUNG Hon-chu was in favour of permitting occulting or flashing signs. Dr. BELL was not. These signs are at present prohibited by law. I understand that there would probably be no objection to their legalization, subject to compliance with certain technical requirements concerning non-interference with telecommunications and the normal electricity supply; fire hazard also needs to be guarded against. Consideration is now being given to the possibility of drafting suitable legislation for the purpose.
Dr. P. F. Woo expressed concern at the pruning in the Establishment Branch and the Staff Increases Sub-Committee of Finance Committee of the staff estimates proposed by this Council.
In the first place, I do not think that it would be reasonable to expect either the Establishment Branch or Finance Committee to rubber-stamp, without detailed examination, any proposals or recommendations coming before them, no matter how carefully they have been examined previously. After all, this Council does not function as a rubber-stamp.
Secondly, through its wider experience of similar problems in other departments, the Establishment Branch is frequently able to offer helpful and constructive suggestions and to indicate appropriate solutions.
Thirdly, while this Council is concerned primarily with the most efficient manner of performing its duties, with the question of economy taking high priority, both the Colonial Secretariat and the Finance Committee must take the question of finance very much into account, and it may be that they adopt an even stricter criterion than that adopted by this Council. Posts that are very desirable are therefore liable to be deleted if it cannot be shown that they are vital. I understand that a total of 6,600 additional posts was recommended by all the different Government departments, and we must assume that other departments' estimates were prepared with as much care as our own. These requests were reduced to 3,400 additional posts actually proposed for inclusion in the current estimates, so it is clear that we have not suffered alone and that the need for economy has been imposed on all departments alike. I have already said at a previous meeting that the small cuts made in the Urban Services Department staff estimates for 1962/63 should not prevent us from meeting our commitments effectively.
With the concurrence of my friend, the Commissioner for Resettlement, I would point out that the decision to omit a large number of posts for labourers in the Resettlement Department was not in fact a refusal of this Council's request for the additional staff. It was a deferment to afford an opportunity for re-examination of the cleansing
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