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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN.
Ladies and gentlemen, before taking the first item on to-day's agenda, I am sure that Members will wish me to welcome Mr. J. F. HARDING, the new Deputy Secretary of this Council, who has just taken over from Mr. Adolf Hsu. (Applause).
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ground, Fa Hui Park and the Choi Hung Playground. Sets have already been installed in three of these playgrounds where the public response has been encouraging. A receiver will soon be available in the fourth playground. The provision of television in public recreation areas must still be regarded as being in the nature of an experiment, but, if the degree of success achieved continues, the Select Committee will undoubtedly wish to expand the programme. Sets have so far been installed only in areas where shelters are available but, in anticipation of a greater demand, the Urban Services Department is now discussing with Rediffusion possible ways of protecting receivers installed in the open air.
MRS. ELLIOTT:-Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
MINUTES.
The minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 5th September, 1967 were confirmed.
PAPER.
THE CHAIRMAN laid upon the table the following paper:
Report on the work of the Urban Council and Urban Services Department for the month of September, 1967.
QUESTIONS.
(1) MRS. ELSIE ELLIOTT asked the following question:
(a) Would the Chairman kindly report on the success or otherwise of the television experiment in Victoria Park?
(b) What plans are being made to expand this service to the public?
THE CHAIRMAN, URBAN COUNCIL, replied as follows:-
Last March, Rediffusion (Hong Kong) Ltd, was invited to mount a demonstration of television for public viewing in Victoria Park. Two sets were installed in the pavilion within the children's playground and programmes were made available, restricted to the Chinese channel except on Saturday and Sunday afternoons when the English channel was shown.
A survey of attendance carried out by the Urban Services Department confirmed that a daily average of some 1,700 people watched the programmes. Press comments and public opinion on the experiment were very favourable, and it was considered that success had been demonstrated to an extent which justified the installation of a number of receivers on a permanent basis in various locations.
The Parks, Recreation and Amenities Select Committee subsequently authorized the installation of receivers in the Sai Ying Pun Children's Playground, the Po On Playground, Fa Hui Park and the Choi Hung Playground.
(2) DR. P. F. Woo asked the following question:
Complaints have been received by me and by your department that toilet facilities for women in Fa Yuen Street Market are utterly inadequate. The question was raised by me at the Council Meeting held on 6th September, 1966. Nothing apparently is being done. Would the Chairman explain why nothing is being done, and give an assurance that the department will take up the matter with the authorities immediately?
THE CHAIRMAN, URBAN COUNCIL, replied as follows:-
In my reply to the question which you asked, Sir, on the same subject on 6th September, 1966, I said that the Urban Services Department had approached the Public Works Department and suggested that additional toilet facilities should be provided in this market. I also said that an estimate of the cost was awaited, together with the comments of the Public Works Department on the feasibility of the suggestion. Drawings were subsequently prepared by that department together with an estimate of the cost, amounting to approximately $14,000. In January of this year the Public Works Department indicated that there was likely to be difficulty in obtaining funds for this item during the remainder of the financial year, and suggested that the Urban Services Department should examine possible alternative sources of funds. This was done, but without success, and the Public Works Department were informed that the scheme would be submitted to the
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