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is not receiving the urgent attention, consideration and above all action by Government which it merits. I refer to TYPHOON SHELTER FACILITIES. Since 1961 successive Committees have made the point in reports that due to the rapid increase in the number of small vessels there would be a critical shortage of Typhoon Shelters which could, under certain conditions, leave craft, vital to the Port, dangerously exposed. That point has now been reached, and it is only because merciful Providence has spared us a full typhoon force gale from the West, that we have not had a repetition of the damage and loss of small craft as in "Typhoon Mary" in 1960. To those landlubbers who mostly cower behind shutters, or possibly, one day, down in a tunnel, the fury of wind and sea in the course of a typhoon is something only to be imagined. But for the men and women, many with their families, who work and live in junks, lighters, craft of all description, aye and even harbour ferries, it is bad enough to be moored in a well-constructed and organized typhoon shelter. But not to be able to find such refuge because there is no room, and have to ride out a gale on the fringe or even outside a shelter is a dreadful experience, one we should not expect any of our seafaring population to endure.
In fine weather, even the most casual observer from "Fairyland", and I refer without malice to the Kowloon description of the administrative offices on this side of the Harbour, can see that the Shelters at both Yau Ma Tei and Causeway Bay are nearly full, with the result that when the typhoon signal goes up they become jammed to overflowing. Meanwhile, those operators of harbour craft and ferries who strive to keep essential services going as long as possible, are deprived the safe berth the very nature of their function demands. Because of this during "Typhoon Freda" in July, several ferries and other craft had to seek shelter behind the Kai Tak runway. This is just not good enough and I suggest Government is not giving high enough priority to solving this problem. I note that on the 28th July in Legislative Council the Director of Public Works stated that the Aldrich Bay Typhoon Shelter scheme had been upgraded from Category "C" to Category "B": I suggest the time is ripe for it to be upgraded to Category "A".
But, as even with the highest priority the construction of another Typhoon Shelter is a lengthy process, ways and means should be urgently considered to improve conditions in the existing Typhoon Shelters now. I recommend in addition to efforts at clearance already made, a combined operation be mounted, by the Commissioner for Resettlement in conjunction with the Director of Marine, to resite and settle ashore all persons from non-working craft in the Central Harbour Typhoon Shelters. The Director of Marine must not permit the present situation to continue whereby the Shelters in the harbour are being used as a convenience by persons whose real aim is cheap shore accommodation in a Resettlement Estate, and should be empowered to exercise the necessary control over the use made of the Typhoon Shelter facilities.
Positive action is required now, otherwise we will emerge after a severe typhoon to find that many craft essential to the working of our Port have been badly damaged, communications disrupted, and even worse, lives that could have been saved, lost, due to the lack of reasonably safe Typhoon Shelters.
Mr. Chairman, I enjoy working with my colleagues, appointed, elected and official alike on the various Select Committees, and I heartily agree with my friend Mr. LOBO, that the real work of this Council is carried out in those Select Committees.
I trust I have made my point, and look forward to your reply on the 21st December, ending on the note I began, hoping I have preserved my wicket intact, and now declare our innings closed, and have much pleasure in supporting the motion before Council. (Applause).
CHAIRMAN:-May I say how interesting it has been to listen to the eloquence of yesterday and to-day. My official colleagues and I are now trying to prepare adequate replies to the many and interesting points which have been raised in this debate. To give us time to apply ourselves to this important task, I move the debate be adjourned until 21st December, 1965 at 2.30 p.m.
THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES seconded.
The question was put.
The motion was carried.
ADJOURNMENT - 5.10 P.M.
CHAIRMAN:-That concludes the business of this meeting. Council stands adjourned until Tuesday, 21st December, 1965 at 2.30 p.m.
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