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CHAIRMAN:-I think, Sir, that Mr. CHEONG-LEEN's speech was in support of his question, and I accept it accordingly.
MR. A. de O. SALES asked the following question :-
(a) To provide swimming facilities for the people living in densely-populated districts and to obviate the need for them to swim at Lai Chi Kok and generally within the limits of the harbour has this Council not long recommended the construction of a number of swimming pools?
(b) How many and where are these pools to be located?
(c) When are they to be built?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:-
The answer to the first part of your question is that both Government and the Urban Council have, since 1947, declared their intention of providing public swimming pools in Hong Kong and Kowloon. The policy was last endorsed by the Urban Amenities Select Committee in 1960.
There is provision in the Public Works Programme for a swimming pool at Kowloon Tsai. Work is under way now and is likely to be completed by the end of this year. I hope that the pool will be opened on or about March 1st next year.
In addition, there is provision for a swimming pool at Cheung Sha Wan on a site between the Tai Po Road and the Li Cheng Uk Resettlement Estate. No progress can be made till the project is upgraded in the Public Works Programme, from Category C to B.
Another pool will be sited at Kennedy Town, in the area of the existing slaughterhouse. No progress can be expected till the new abattoir is completed, in perhaps 1965.
A further pool is proposed for Tai Wan, on a new reclamation near the electricity generating station in Kowloon. As the reclamation itself does not have a high priority, the completion of the pool is not expected for some years.
There is a possibility of another pool at Kwun Tong, beside the road under construction to Yau Tong.
Finally, there is a suggestion that, if Lai Chi Kok bay is reclaimed, the present bathing beach might be replaced by a swimming pool.
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DR. BELL:---May I ask a supplementary question on (a), Mr. Chairman? Do you accept that there is a need to obviate swimming at Lai Chi Kok?
CHAIRMAN:-As a member of the Urban Amenities Select Committee, which considered this question recently, I would say "Yes". It was agreed that we should make representations to Government on the subject of providing a swimming pool there.
DR. BELL:---In view of your answer, Mr. Chairman, have we taken steps to ask Government to expedite the provision of a swimming pool there?
CHAIRMAN:--The meeting was held only last week, and we have not as yet made representations to Government.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, may I ask a question in clarification arising out of what was just said? Haven't this Council and the Select Committee agreed, nearly 2 years ago, in principle that if Lai Chi Kok bay was to be reclaimed—as it was put to the Council at that time—there would definitely be a swimming pool in the vicinity?
CHAIRMAN:-I understand that that was the intention.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Thank you.
DR. BELL: Is it possible, Mr. Chairman, in the meantime, while it is impossible to stop people swimming there, for the sewage which is discharging from the nullah there, to be stopped? Can that nullah be diverted in the meantime?
CHAIRMAN: -My impression, Dr. BELL, is that it is not sewage which is coming through the nullah, but seepage from the surrounding area. The matter was discussed by the Urban Amenities Select Committee recently and it was accepted that it was not worthwhile diverting the nullah.
MR. FUNG HON-CHU asked the following question:—
(a) Has a survey ever been made of flush wells and pumps to ascertain whether these perform the services required of them?
(b) Is the Chairman aware that these pumps often fail to operate because of (i) insufficient depth of wells or (ii) faulty machinery?
(c) Does the Chairman appreciate what trouble and nuisance this failure imposes on house-holders, and how much mains water must be used to keep closets reasonably clean?
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