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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Kennedy Town was declared an offensive trade area many years ago. Developers who have built domestic or commercial premises there have presumably done so with their eyes open. Nevertheless, it is agreed that the residential and commercial development which has taken place at Kennedy Town makes it less suitable for offensive trades now than originally. In 1955 it was decided that no further licences would be issued for bone sheds in the area and since 1958 discussions regarding new sites have been going on between the Public Works Department, the New Territories Administration and the Urban Services Department.
There are 22 licensed offensive trade establishments at Kennedy Town, but of these only 9 (the 8 bone stores and one feather factory) are required under the By-laws to be in a declared offensive trade area. The remaining 13 are not obliged to be in a designated area and as the law stands they cannot be required to move even if the bone stores find sites elsewhere.
Efforts are continually being made by the Superintendent of Crown Lands & Surveys to resolve this problem of providing alternative sites, but it will be appreciated that every proposal to earmark a new site raises protests similar to those made by residents of Kennedy Town. Merely to remove offensive trades to remote areas of the New Territories would make it impossible for them to function economically and would simply put them out of business.
There are, at present no alternative sites immediately available for these offensive trades. At the meeting of this Council on May 1st, 1962, my friend the Director of Public Works mentioned four sites which have been earmarked as possible alternative offensive trade areas. These are at Sam Ka Tsuen (beyond Kwun Tong), at Aberdeen, at Gin Drinker's Bay, and on Tsing Yi Island. It is hoped that when the offensive trades concerned are provided with new sites, it will be possible to encourage them to rebuild on modern lines with suitable machinery so that nuisances are reduced to a minimum.
DR. LEE:- I wonder whether the Chairman is aware that representations have been made by the residents of this area against the existence of these offensive trades?
CHAIRMAN:- Sir, I have heard of representations being made from time to time.
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DR. LEE:- I wonder what constructive and positive steps this Council has taken in respect of these complaints.
CHAIRMAN:- As far as I know, the Offensive Trades & Slaughterhouses Select Committee has considered this matter from time to time.
DR. LEE:- In view of the number of years since the Select Committee last met on this matter, is it not time that the Council should take some form of action to accommodate these complaints in view of the growing extent of the residential population in the district?
CHAIRMAN:- I would have no objection to referring the matter again to the Select Committee.
DR. R. H. S. LEE asked the following question:-
Is the Chairman aware that the siting of the proposed refuse incinerator and the new Government Mortuary is not popular with the residents of Kennedy Town? Will he take up with Government the possibility of extending the reclamation further along the shore of Mount Davis and place these unpopular establishments there away from the boundary of Kennedy Town proper in view of the fact that the new Slaughterhouse is already inflicted upon the inhabitants of this district?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:-
I am aware that some residents of Kennedy Town have expressed concern over the siting of the proposed refuse incinerator for Hong Kong Island, but I think that their concern can be allayed. This modern plant will be totally enclosed. There should be no smell nuisance in the neighbourhood. Properly operated, there will be little or no smoke from the chimney, and as the chimney will be very tall any smoke will be dissipated without inconvenience to residents. The plant will be situated 100 yards from the nearest domestic premises.
As regards the mortuary, the facilities of the present old mortuary at Hill Road, not far from the proposed new site, are quite inadequate, and the building should be reprovisioned in the not distant future. The proposed
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