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has been looking into ways of achieving this. If in due course the Council approves, an item for the installation of electric lighting in the Botanic Gardens will be submitted for inclusion in the Government's street lighting programme.
Until lighting has been installed, it would not be advisable to keep the gardens open after dark owing to the many steep paths, steps and dark corners. There is also the risk of damage to valuable plants.
MR. BERNACCHI:- Mr. Chairman, in your experience what length of time is the delay between the inclusion in the Government's street lighting programme and the actual installation of lighting?
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS:- Mr. Chairman, I see that you are looking at me (Laughter) but I would also like to pass the buck, because we are entirely dependent on the China Light & Power Company or, in this case, the Hong Kong Electric Company. They in fact do the street lighting. The programmes are approved by Government and are then given to them to put the work in hand. As far as I know, they will do it as soon as they can get the equipment.
DR. Woo:- Mr. Chairman, I have a supplementary question. A similar question was asked by me 7 years ago and I do not seem to have got an official reply. I understand that the Urban Amenities Select Committee will consider this matter. Do you intend to refer it to the Committee or to take action in the Department in installing these street lights?
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, I was going to ask for clarification, but since you have answered so categorically without consulting the Chairman of the Urban Amenities Select Committee, I suggest you answer that supplementary also. (Laughter)
CHAIRMAN:- It was, I am afraid, my impression that the matter had been put to the Urban Amenities Select Committee.
MR. SALES:- Sir, may I suggest that this reply was drafted by your Department without consulting the Chairman of the Urban Amenities Select Committee.
DR. BELL:- Mr. Chairman, may I ask a further supplementary on Mr. BERNACCHI's supplementary and on the reply given by the Director of Public Works? Is the delay perhaps on the approval of plans by Government or on the part of the Electric Company?
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS:- It is not a question of approval of plans by Government on street lighting. The schedule of street lighting is submitted to the Public Works Sub-Committee of Finance Committee
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and that Sub-Committee approves the street lighting programme. I myself wondered when I read this answer as to how the Botanic Gardens qualify as streets, but I think this is the system which is used; that if the lighting is put in as street lighting in a public park—I believe it is Victoria Park—then it is done on this programme without the voting of special funds. On the other hand, there are other playgrounds where we put in floodlighting or lighting which is installed as part of the Government project using Government funds. There are two ways of getting this lighting done.
DR. BELL: What is the average delay in the approval of plans?
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS:- As I have said, Mr. Chairman, there are no plans submitted. If the Power Companies wish to put in street lights they do not have to submit plans.
DR. BELL:- If a request is submitted that street lighting should be put in a park, what is the delay in the approval of the request?
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS:- I am afraid I am unable to answer questions which affect the Public Works Sub-Committee, of which I am not the Chairman.
MR. BERNACCHI:- May I make a personal statement, Mr. Chairman, particularly in view of MR. SALES' criticism of you for not consulting him as Chairman of the Urban Amenities Select Committee. This question was submitted by me at a very late stage and I obtained your approval for less than 7 days' notice. Perhaps the mistake was mine, in that the Chairman had not enough time to consult the Chairman of the Urban Amenities Select Committee.
CHAIRMAN:- Sir, I am deeply touched by the way you have defended me. (Laughter). I assure you that I do not feel that I need to be defended at all. There is nothing in the reply which is discreditable to the Urban Amenities Select Committee or to its Chairman. If I had had slightly more time I would perhaps have asked the Chairman of the Select Committee to give the answer himself.
MR. SALES: Sir, this exchange of courtesy between you and the Senior Elected Member is most touching. It only lends substance to the suspicion which the Appointed Members have had for years on end that there is an unholy alliance obtaining between Government and the Elected Members at times. I do remember Mr. BERNACCHI speaking time and again very strongly in this Council that answers to questions which concern Select Committees should be made by the Chairmen of the respective Select Committees, and certainly the least that could have been done in this case was that the policy which was to be expressed should have been referred to the Chairman for acknowledgment and endorsement. I accept the position as stated by Mr. BERNACCHI and...
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