Page 124 of 150
232
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. A. de O. SALES asked the following question:-
Will the Chairman please make a statement on the proposed abattoirs?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:
The sketch plans for both the new abattoirs were approved by Government in March 1962, and in the same month the architects in Britain, Messrs. Hal Williams & Co. were instructed to proceed with the working drawings. It is too early to give any firm forecast of when work will commence, but the Public Works Department are working on the assumption that piling will start early in 1964, to be followed by the main building contract later in the same year.
The new abattoirs will contain a great deal of complicated equipment, and in July 1962 Government accepted a tender for the supply of this from the British firm of Messrs. William Douglas & Sons (Engineering) Ltd. Every possible step is being taken to ensure that the abattoirs are completed as soon as possible, but if any unforeseen circumstance should arise I shall at once inform this Council.
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, are both abattoirs to be built at the same time?
CHAIRMAN: Yes, Sir, that is my understanding.
MR. SALES: Can this Council be assured that, in this respect as well, Mr. Chairman, Kowloon will not be discriminated against?
CHAIRMAN: As far as I am aware, Sir, there will be no discrimination.
MR. SALES--Thank you.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
233
vision of the Advertisement By-laws, that this is a most complex matter, and that a detailed reply to your question would run to great length. I propose therefore to restrict my reply to the salient points, though I will gladly give you, in writing, any further information you wish on points of detail.
The Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance and the Advertisement By-laws, taken together, give the Urban Council three main powers. First, the power to control sky signs by issuing licences for them. Second, the power to cause the removal of advertisements disfiguring the natural beauty of any scenery or affecting injuriously the amenities of any locality. Third, the power to deal with advertisements which, in the opinion of the Building Authority or the Director of Fire Services, are either structurally dangerous or constitute fire hazards.
The Council's powers which I have just outlined apply to the whole of the urban area, including the Airport and Railway Lands.
The Director of Civil Aviation and the General Manager, Railway, also have certain powers to control advertisements within the Airport or on Railway Lands. These powers may, in some ways, be compared with those of any landlord, and in no way hinder the overriding right of this Council to exercise its general powers over advertisements within the Airport or on Railway Lands.
As you, Sir, are fully aware, the Council has never had all the staff it would like to enforce these particular powers, and in practice it has only been possible to deal with those few cases which have been drawn to the Council's attention. Furthermore, the existing By-laws were enacted 43 years ago and are inappropriate to present day conditions. For these reasons new By-laws have been drafted and are now being considered by the Urban Amenities Select Committee of this Council.
MR. A. de O. SALES asked the following question :-
Will the Chairman please advise this Council what control is exercised over advertisements in the Colony? Are advertisements at the Airport and on Railway Lands not subject to the same control?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows: -
I think that you are already aware, Sir, in your capacity as Chairman of the Select Committee dealing with the re-
MR. A. de O. SALES asked the following question :
May this Council know whether the land released by the Services at Causeway Bay will be used for recreational purposes?
Page 124 of 150
232
...
233