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are fast becoming inadequate, and say that the matter is being actively considered.
MR. BERNACCHI:--A couple of supplementaries, Mr. Chairman. First of all, have any plans yet been made for the ultimate use of the reclamation in question?
CHAIRMAN:--As far as I know the outline plan has yet to be approved. Perhaps the Director of Public Works could advise me on this, but it is rather outside the context of the original question, Mr. BERNACCHI.
MR. BERNACCHI:--Well, Mr. Chairman, the context is, can we possibly still hope for new accommodation on the reclamation?
CHAIRMAN:--I would rather like to put it that I would like to think that new accommodation will be provided. I would not like to state specifically "on the reclamation."
MR. BERNACCHI:--In a central area as opposed to an outlandish area, I hope?
CHAIRMAN:--Certainly, one would like to see it Central, either in Hong Kong, or perhaps in Kowloon.
MR. SALES:--Sir, I was going to offer the part of Whitfield Barracks which Government still has. There are still 16 acres left in Whitfield Barracks which Government has set aside for public buildings, and may I suggest that the Municipal Council be accommodated in Kowloon?
MR. BERNACCHI:--Going into past history, would you say, Sir, whether it was at the Chairman's request, the Chairman I think being Mr. RICHARDS, that the Council of the Whole altered the proposal which was agreed to in June 1954?
CHAIRMAN:--I am not exactly sure where the proposal came from that we should drop the original proposal for accommodation on the reclamation, but it certainly was made and Members were informed of this matter.
MR. BERNACCHI:--And when you say that the proposal was that "it would be better to wait for the new central reclamation and the construction of civic offices and a Council Chamber in a new building, possibly a Municipal office," was the word "possibly" ever mentioned either by the Chairman or the Council as a Whole?
CHAIRMAN:--I will need to check on that.
MRS. ELLIOTT:--Mr. Chairman, do we have your assurance that there will be no discrimination against the at present under-privileged Kowloon Members of the Council in choosing a site?
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
CHAIRMAN:--I think it is a question of finding a site, and a suitable one.
MR. HU:--Mr. Chairman, may I ask you one supplementary. Is the present Chamber sufficient to accommodate simultaneous translation?
CHAIRMAN:--I have already drawn attention to the fact that I consider the present Chamber and offices are fast becoming inadequate.
MR. HU:--I take it that your answer to my question is "No, it is not sufficient to accommodate simultaneous translation". Mr. Chairman, may I express the hope, in view of the urgency of simultaneous interpretation of Council meetings, that Government finds a suitable Urban Council as soon as possible.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:--Mr. Chairman, as this is a matter of such importance to the Council, would you have it referred to the next meeting of the Standing Committee as a Whole for discussion?
CHAIRMAN:--I can do this, Mr. CHEONG-LEEN,
(5) MR. HENRY H. L. HU asked the following question:--
Could the Chairman inform the Council what measures do we take in order to improve the hygienic standard and cleanliness of our resettlement estates? Is there any way to prevent the dumping of rubbish from the upper floor residents to the ground floor schools of the resettlement estates?
THE CHAIRMAN, IN THE ABSENCE OF ACTING COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT, replied as follows:----
Cleansing of the public parts of estates is carried out either by labourers employed by the Resettlement Department or, in some of the newer estates, by sanitation companies under contract to the department. Courtyards, etc. are swept four times a day, and there is a special anti-nuisance squad whose responsibility it is to remove the more solid and bulkier articles such as old crates and so on. Some tenants make arrangements with sanitation companies to collect their household refuse, but this practice is not universal. The newer estates have a refuse chute on each floor, but again, these are not universally used. Campaigns urging residents to keep their estates clean and not to dump refuse from upper floors are held from time
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