Page 18 of 194
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
In my visits to the estates I have seen Area Officers carry out their duties with tact and patience, often under trying circumstances. Cordial relations between settlers and area staff are not only desirable but essential to peace and order, but both parties must play their part before such relations can be firmly established. I appeal to all settlers to co-operate with their Area Officers and neighbours to foster friendly relations in the estates.
With these remarks, Mr. Chairman, I have pleasure to support the motion before this Council to-day.
MR. J. L. MARDEN:- Mr. Chairman, in rising to support the motion, I would like to address a few words on a few subjects.
Firstly, hawkers. During the past year there have been fewer complaints in the press about the so-called oppression of the hawkers by the Hawker Control Force. This, I am sure, is because the hawkers now realize that the Hawker Control Force is there to help them as well as to see that regulations are obeyed. Its purpose is not to annoy the hawkers but to make for better understanding, as was exemplified recently when some of the hawkers in Jardines Bazaar were moved into the Tang Lung Chau Market. This was accomplished by good staff work and planning by the Urban Services Department and the Hawker Control Force by telling the hawkers individually the reason for the move, and the Departments are to be congratulated on this good bit of public relations. There was a letter in the papers recently complaining of those hawkers who were not resited in the Tang Lung Chau Market and it is hoped to be able to provide space for them shortly in the same areas.
Secondly, abattoirs. The drawings for the new abattoirs are now being prepared and in due course we shall have them erected and operating successfully. Preliminary figures indicate that, in spite of the ever increasing funds needed for this essential amenity, they will be running at a profit. In line with the existing policy of the Department, talks will be held with dealers to see that they know what the Department is aiming to do. Although in public financing no account is taken of land made available for development by the removal of existing buildings, I feel that the Financial Secretary should take note of the new sites which will be made available in Kennedy Town and Ma Tau Kok when looking at the astronomical cost of the two new abattoirs.
Thirdly, harbour pollution. At the January meeting of the Council, my colleague, Mr. Wilfred WONG asked a question concerning bathing at Lai Chi Kok Beach and in your answer you stated the Marine Department were "Taking continuous action to reduce pollution in the harbour" and we have seen in the papers, Sir, recently a report on what the Marine Department is doing. Could you let us have a reply as to whether the Urban Council as well as the Urban Services Department will be represented on this Committee as requested at that meeting, as it does have such an impact on the various aspects of the Council's work. I noticed also that the boom across the entrance to Gin Drinker's Bay referred to by the Director of Public Works last year, which probably disintegrated in "Wanda", has not been replaced.
Fourthly, offensive trades. Talking about Gin Drinker's Bay- at the same meeting Dr. Raymond LEE asked a question on the flies at the North Street bone sheds. I understand that land was to have been made available in the Gin Drinker's Bay area for offensive trades in general and bone sheds in particular, but that, although the land in that area would not be available for three years, offensive trades are out. This cannot be because of the offensive smell, as it would be difficult to beat the smell from the area at this moment. It is hoped that Crown Lands and/or the New Territories Division are going to make alternate land available soon, as in this particular trade the end-product is used by the farmers in the New Territories. However, I do not mean to be offensive to my colleague for Kowloon, Mr. SALES, in seeming to suggest that we put all offensive trades on to the Kowloon side (Laughter), but would also propose, as I did last year, that land should be made available as soon as possible at Aberdeen, but in view of the Director of Public Works' remarks on the development of Aberdeen I would suggest Ap Lei Chau as an alternative site (Laughter) so that the urban areas can be relieved of the various other offensive trades, such as tanning; bone-boiling, storing or grinding; processing of fish, or parts of fish including sharks' fins or feather storing or processing.
Mr. SALES has not been riding his Kowloon hobby horse today, but I feel that his voice has been heard in other places, as when I was returning recently from Singapore the pilot of the aircraft told us that we should be approaching Hong Kong from the south west and that the Island of Hong Kong would be on our right and we should land at Kai Tak in the City of Kowloon (Laughter). I hasten to add that he did not mention Mr. SALES or Dr. BELL by name. In a recently published book on Hong Kong the first chapter is entitled "Two Cities" and distinguishes them by saying “Kowloon is more raffish, seedier, rather more exciting than Victoria. You feel that life spins faster there" (Laughter), but to put that comparison in its proper perspective the book also states that "in 1947 a Municipal Council was formed composed of thirty democratically elected members. It runs the municipal affairs of the two cities of Victoria and Kowloon” (Laughter).
The Council is represented on the Traffic Advisory Committee and some time ago I wrote to that Committee through our representative about two hill roads, one out of Shau Kei Wan and the other down
Page 21 of 194