Page 35 of 312
48
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. LI YIU-BOR asked the following question:-
The water storage tank at the junction of Boundary Street and Lai Chi Kok Road, Sham Shui Po, where there are a few cooked-food stalls, has now become a serious nuisance to public health.
Will the Chairman inform this Council when this tank can be removed or what other steps can be taken to abate the nuisance?
THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES replied as follows:-
This water storage tank does not itself constitute a health nuisance, but a certain amount of sullage water accumulates at the back of the tank, originating from a nearby squatter area. My friend, the Director of Public Works, has been asked to see whether the drainage system here can be improved. The market environs, pavements and channels in the vicinity of the cooked food stalls are flushed daily with salt-water from a nearby hydrant. This tank is one of a number built to provide emergency fire fighting supplies of water. These tanks no longer serve any useful purpose and are, therefore, being removed as the opportunity arises in the course of development. The question of removing this particular tank is being looked into.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, may I ask a supplementary? Is the Deputy Director of Medical and Health Services aware that there are quite a few other tanks in different parts of the urban areas which are a nuisance to the residents in the respective areas?
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES:-There are a number of these tanks, Sir, in these areas and they are, I believe, all in the process of being removed.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Specifically what is meant by the phrase in the penultimate sentence "These tanks no longer serve any useful purpose and are, therefore, being removed as opportunity arises in the course of development"? Does that mean as and when brought to the attention of this Council by Members or as and when letters to the Press appear?
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS:-Sir, perhaps I can help. These tanks, as you are aware, were put in their present locations for fire-fighting purposes. During the last two years we have been laying salt-water fire-fighting mains for the Fire Services and whenever they get such an alternative supply of water and do not have to rely on water from a tank, it is then removed. Naturally there are lags in between when a tank becomes redundant and when it is removed.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
49
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-In other words then, Mr. Chairman, for the purpose of clarification, some of these tanks still serve a useful purpose?
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS:-Sir, that could be the case. I cannot say categorically here that they do not, but it is now being looked into and if they do not serve a useful purpose they will be removed.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, may I ask when such information is collated whether I could be put into the picture, because this question has been coming up year after year for the last 5 years?
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS:-Mr. Chairman, I have no objection at all. I will certainly keep the Member informed.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Thank you.
MR. SALES:-Mr. Chairman, if the Director of Public Works is unable to give a categorical assurance on another issue connected with my friend's supplementary question, perhaps he could give me a categorical assurance that in the removal of such tanks priority is not given to the Island? (Laughter).
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS:-Mr. Chairman, I am quite willing to give that assurance.
MR. SALES:-Thank you.
MR. WATSON:-Mr. Chairman, may I ask a supplementary question? Are there any tanks on the Island? (Laughter).
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES:-I have got a list of these static water tanks here. There are 11 in Kowloon and 13 on the Island.
MR. WATSON:-Mr. Chairman, it rather seems that the Island should receive priority. (Laughter).
MR. SALES:-Mr. Chairman, perhaps Kowloon has been discriminated against for too long. The expenditure of Government funds in the removal of such tanks to enable better traffic conditions to obtain in Kowloon would be fully justified.
CHAIRMAN:-Mr. SALES, would you like to ask the next question?
Page 35
Page 36