Page 199 of 279
370
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. R. H. LOBO:-Mr. Chairman, this has been a year of records in sports, in politics and in space. In Hong Kong it has been a year of records, too-if not in sports, politics and space, then in the vagaries of its weather, in the number of words spoken and written for press consumption, both inside and outside the Urban Council.
In the number of visiting Parliamentarians whose short visits set new records in their understanding of local conditions.
In the number of parks and playgrounds built, which despite the never-ending efforts of the Select Committee responsible and the support which that Committee has received from Councillors, the space made available so far, divided by the youth of Hong Kong, must constitute a near world record per capita minimum recreational requirement.
This problem of trying to relate people to inadequate space also affects swimming pools and beaches. Over one million people, including about half a million children, crowded into two swimming pools, which is also something of a world record. While those panting members of the Community were seeking sufficient water in which to stand up, the remainder were seeking beaches, not very successfully, free of foot-lacerating stones and un-spat-on sand. Unfortunately, there are no available records on expectorants. Perhaps the penalty for indiscriminate spitting should be altered.
There must be something of a record, too, in that the markets are getting older, often smellier. The progress with the North Point and Kwun Tong Markets, too, has set a record for their unduly long time for completion, and one is inclined to suspect that despite the need for improvement, the markets have lost priority.
By way of housing and resettlement, another record was set-never has there been so much of the Community housed and likewise, never has there been so much rubbish descending from the tenements throughout the urban areas-the water dripping from the air conditioners will soon set another record in having the most modern city with the most antiquated control. Even the front streets, usually kept reasonably clean when the back streets are overflowing with rubbish, are now subject to those drips and drops from on high. Despite the work and the publicity being done by the "Keep Your City Clean" campaign, it seems to have little effect on the public.
It has been mentioned before that there is a deplorable lack of civic pride in Hong Kong. If the public cannot be persuaded to co-operate in this matter, then perhaps other measures will have to be found.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
371
Turning to the City Hall, it is gratifying to observe that the units available for hire also continue to be very heavily used and an estimate calculated on a deliberately conservative basis gives a figure of more than 5 million persons for the period since the City Hall was opened. This figure speaks for itself.
I am particularly pleased to note the great success of those series of shows organized under our direct administration: I refer to the monthly concerts at the deliberately low admission fee of $1.00. In the past 12 months, 13 concerts have been presented and the total attendance has been nearly 18,000.
The growing demand for the usage of the Concerts Hall and Theatre prompts me to wonder whether it is not high time for us to be thinking in terms of expansion and modifications and perhaps attention should be given to ways in which we could improve the facilities to increase flexibilities and appeal. I refer in particular to the Concert Hall. I wonder whether anything can be done to increase the depth of the stage and improve the working conditions behind the stage to permit a more effective presentation of ballet, opera, and large concerts, without adversely affecting the good acoustics of this hall. This is a matter that ought to be explored.
Similarly, I wonder whether investigation might not be put in hand to install the necessary equipment to permit television coverage of activities that take place in the City Hall, particularly in the Concert Hall. This would give the community at large the opportunity of appreciating cultural and other functions which they would not otherwise be able to enjoy.
Finally, before I leave the subject of the City Hall, may I briefly refer to a point that was raised last year and again this year by my colleague, Mr. Wilson WANG. I refer to the title of the post of the Manager of the City Hall. I wonder if this could be looked at again.
I find I must touch on another subject, this perhaps outside the purview of the Council. This, it is not a record, instead, it is and has become a crying shame. I am referring to the organized chaos created by the Immigration Department at all the Macau Ferry Piers. Passengers have been queuing up on gangways, on roads and on the piers inside and outside the building, waiting to be cleared by the slow and often very arrogant Immigration officers. In some instances, their waiting time is half the time of the journey and often more.
Some time ago, there was much correspondence in the Press expressing dissatisfaction and the Immigration Department made statements, as well as organized conducted tours to certain civic bodies, presumably to create the impression that all was well and that improvements were on the way.
Page 199 of 279