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Excluding the Principal Amenities Officer, one Executive Officer and 4 clerks, whom I have referred to Headquarters Staff, the remaining staff comprise the following:
Middle Grade Technical or Supervisory 2 Junior Supervisory 57 Other Staff 1,183 Total 1,242The Principal Amenities Officer has now expressed the view that the immediate provision of at least 6 additional Middle Grade posts is essential. This confirms the opinion formed in the department prior to his arrival. It is intended to apply for these posts now by supplementary provision.
The answer to the third part of the question is none.
We are now looking into the long term requirement for experienced and well trained local men and women to fill senior posts in the years ahead and this will probably involve sending some of them for training overseas. The answer to the fourth part of the question is in the affirmative. We have not yet worked out details but the Urban Amenities Select Committee will be kept informed on this matter, and indeed on all aspects of the organization and staffing of the Amenities Group.
MR. SALES :-Sir, as you may know, the engagement of the Principal Amenities Officer followed on a very strong recommendation made by the Urban Council that this post should be created.
What have you done in consequence regarding the second post which was suggested, that an officer be engaged for the purpose of organizing the recreational facilities made available by the Urban Council.
CHAIRMAN:-Sir, no firm proposals have yet been made on this matter at departmental level but discussions are taking place now among senior staff of the department on the general question of the re-organization of the amenities group, and it is intended, Sir, that when proposals have been formulated they should be put to the Urban Amenities Select Committee.
MR. SALES: Sir, when a decision is reached in your department, would it not be too late to implement it in the estimates this year?
CHAIRMAN:-I cannot say with certainty, Sir. I hope not, but if it is too late and the need for a post is evident, it is still possible to obtain it by supplementary provision.
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MR. SALES: Are you prepared, Sir, to make representations at this time to Government about the possibilities of such a post being created.
CHAIRMAN: -I would prefer to continue the discussions, which I hope will not take much longer, at departmental level and put a paper as soon as possible to the Urban Amenities Select Committee.
MR. WONG:-Sir, I understand that the Principal Amenities Officer with special experience in the field of horticulture and park administration has been appointed. In view of the poor conditions of the beaches, Sir, have you considered the appointment of a special Amenities Officer with the principal duty of cleaning the beaches and making the beaches fit to swim from.
CHAIRMAN:-May I make two observations. First, the report of the Ad Hoc Committee on beaches which was tabled earlier at this meeting, records that the beaches in the New Territories, are well maintained. I am not sure that I can accept your point that all the beaches in the Colony are in an unsatisfactory condition, but I can confirm that the intention is that one of the middle-grade supervisory staff mentioned in my reply to Mr. SALES' question, would be a person appointed to pay particular attention to the control and up-keep of the beaches.
MR. WONG:—Sir, on a point of clarification, I was referring to the beaches within the purview of the Urban Council.
MR. SALES: -May I continue to make the point, Sir, that there is a need for a second Amenities Officer to ensure that the facilities What steps does your department intend taking before the estimates are forwarded to Government regarding staffing requirements for the year beginning 1st April, 1966?
CHAIRMAN:-Sir, I thought that I had made the position clear. The intention is that discussions should be held in the department and finalized as soon as possible and that proposals should then be made to the Urban Amenities Select Committee. If it agrees that these proposals are acceptable, a request will accordingly be made for the posts in the estimates.
MR. SALES: -Because of the urgency of the matter, Sir, could your department put forward these proposals to the Select Committee by the time the Select Committee meets in August so that the estimates when tabled in September, will include this requirement.
CHAIRMAN:-Every effort will be made, Sir, to get the proposals to the next meeting of the Urban Amenities Select Committee.
MR. SALES :-Thank you.
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