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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
CHAIRMAN: ---As Chairman, I have to decide when a question has been sufficiently amplified in supplementaries. I came to the conclusion that this one had been sufficiently amplified.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: -On what basis, Sir?
CHAIRMAN: -On the basis of my own judgment. I am the Chairman.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: -Would you please clarify on how that judgment is arrived at?
MR. CHAIRMAN: -Mr. LI Yiu-bor, will you ask the next question please?
(2) MR. LI YIU-BOR asked the following question:-
(a) Will the Chairman inform this Council whether there is a programme of amenity planting for the newly-named Princess Margaret Road?
(b) Will the Chairman advise this Council whether the trees on Prince Edward Road and other main roads in Kowloon blown down by typhoons will be replaced, and if so, will he indicate when he expects the replacement to be completed?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:
I confirm that the Urban Services Department has an amenity planting programme for Princess Margaret Road to augment the planting carried out in previous years. Semi-mature trees will be planted this summer along some sections of the road; group planting of smaller trees is currently taking place along other sections, for example on the slopes below the new Military Hospital. The large roundabout at the junction of Princess Margaret Road and Argyle Street will be turfed and planted with groups of flowering shrubs within the next few weeks. Ornamental plants will be grown in some of the shady areas beneath the Flyover.
The replacement of trees damaged by typhoons in Waterloo Road, Prince Edward Road and Argyle Street was completed last month. About 300 trees, seven feet high and above, were planted. In some cases it has not been possible to replace the former trees exactly because of the proximity of gas mains, new bus bays, etc.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. LI-If there are no supplementary questions, may I ask Question 3?
(3) MR. LI YIU-BOR asked the following question:
Some residents of Kwun Tong have complained to me at the Ward Office that the large piece of land at Yuet Wah Street which is meant to be developed as a park and a playground is now occupied by hawkers and squatters, and that the area is full of refuse, thereby constituting a nuisance to public health. They further allege that the place is a large breeding ground for mosquitoes.
Will the Chairman inform this Council-
(a) the earliest possible date when this piece of land can be developed; and
(b) what effective steps he will take to abate the nuisance?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:-
The answer to the first part of the question is that plans and estimates for developing this three acre site as a composite playground are being prepared. When these are available the matter will be referred to the Parks, Recreation and Amenities Select Committee for consideration. As this is a major site, involving extensive work and substantial expenditure to develop, and in view of the very large number of projects which the Council is already committed to carrying out, it is unlikely that work will start earlier than 1968.
As regards the second part of the question, domestic refuse is not involved, but steps are being taken by the Cleansing Division of the Urban Services Department to remove the refuse complained of, which consists of abandoned bamboo poles, wood, stones, bricks, scrap iron etc., since the building contractors and occupiers of illegal structures now demolished responsible for this debris cannot be traced. Complaints of mosquitoes in this area were first received in June last year. Since then the Hygiene Division of the Urban Services Department has been taking action to abate the nuisance.
MR. LI: Mr. Chairman, can you tell this Council the number of squatters living in this area?
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