HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. RAFEEK: Mr. Chairman, may I thank Dr. BELL, through you, for her very detailed answer. I was told by the Chairman of the Chai Wan Kaifong Association that conditions are now much improved.
MR. BERNACCHI: Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask Mr. RAFEEK, through you, if the Chai Wan Kaifong Association did anything about the matter themselves?
CHAIRMAN: Sir, I must rule that question out of order. It is an entirely new question.
(6) MR. SOLOMON RAFEEK asked the following question:
I understand that the 6,000 residents in No. 5 Section of the Resettlement area in Chai Wan are finding it difficult to obtain water, since they can only get tap water by climbing 500 steps up a nearby hill. Can the Commissioner for Resettlement take steps to provide a more convenient source of tap water supply to the residents of this section in the Chai Wan Resettlement Area?
THE COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT replied as follows:
There are 5 communal water standpipes in this section, which has a population of 2,527 and occupies an area roughly rectangular in shape, measuring about 400 by 1,100 feet. I am not aware of any previous complaints about the distribution of these taps being such that a long walk uphill is required. No resident is more than 70 yards from a tap, and most are considerably closer.
However, if Mr. RAFEEK can inform me which particular part of this section the complaint refers to, I shall be pleased to investigate whether an additional tap is necessary.
MR. RAFEEK: Mr. Chairman, may I thank the Commissioner for Resettlement, through you, for the information given in his reply. I will inform Mr. BARTY of the exact location in a few days.
MR. SALES: Sir, may I enquire whether these two questions referring to Chai Wan have met with the prior approval of the Member for Chai Wan across the table? (Laughter).
MR. BERNACCHI: The answer is "No".
(7) MR. R. H. LOBO asked the following question:
Would the Chairman inform me if the staff in our multi-storey car parks know how to use the existing fire fighting appliances in case of an emergency in the car parks and if they have received any special training in this respect?
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MR. A. de O. Sales, CHAIRMAN OF THE PARKS, RECREATION AND AMENITIES SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows:
Each of the four car parks is provided with adequate foam extinguishers and there are hydrants on every floor to which water hoses may be attached.
Staff employed in the car parks knows how to use the fire-fighting appliances with which these buildings are equipped, having received instruction from officers of the Fire Services Department when the car parks were opened.
The Department will arrange for them to have refresher training if the Director of Fire Services concurs.
MR. LOBO: Mr. Chairman, I would thank Mr. SALES for his reply, but may I know, if the Director of Fire Services is at the moment unable to arrange for refresher courses, whether the staff can secure training elsewhere, such as the Civil Aid Services?
MR. SALES: Sir, I am quite sure that the Department would be very happy to avail itself of the offer from the Civil Aid Services should the Fire Services Department not be able to cope with our request.
MR. LOBO: Sir, it was not an offer, it was a suggestion.
MR. SALES: Sir, having regard to Mr. LOBO's high standing in the Civil Aid Services, I thought that was, in point of fact, a formal offer for which I am most grateful.
(8) MR. R. H. LOBO asked the following question:
Over a year ago, I put forth a question in respect of uniforms for the Urban Services Department's street cleaning staff and suggested that a brightly coloured uniform should be provided, especially for those working amongst fast flowing traffic.
Would the Chairman please inform me if any progress has been made in this connexion?
THE CHAIRMAN, URBAN COUNCIL, replied as follows:
In answer to a similar question asked in September, 1966, I informed Members that the Controller of Stores was conducting trials with a view to replacing the khaki material used for Government labourers' uniforms with an improved light-weight and light-coloured material. I believe that the Controller of Stores has now come to the conclusion that,