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# HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
## ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN
CHAIRMAN:-Ladies and gentlemen, the meeting is called to order.
Before proceeding with the agenda, I had hoped to welcome back Mr. FORSGATE from his leave but he is otherwise engaged this afternoon, so we shall have to wait for his return on another day. He sends apologies which we also have from Mr. HOLMES, Mr. ROBSON and Mr. Henry WONG.
## MINUTES
The Minutes of the meeting held on 6th May, 1969, 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 May, 1969.
MR. A. de O. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, may I have your permission to make a statement as Chairman of the Recreation & Amenities Select Committee? This Council's attention is drawn to the report about the use of our two public swimming pools. In the period covered by this report, 64,000 persons used Victoria Park and 140,000, Kowloon Tsai Park. Mr. Chairman, last week-end there was a report on television which might have drawn more public attention to the gross inadequacy of the public swimming facilities in Hong Kong. On Saturday just over 13,000 people used both swimming pools, and on Sunday nearly 21,400 people. Sir, I rise to make the point about which my Committee feels very strongly that the construction programme for public swimming pools should be pressed ahead without let or hindrance. There are three swimming pools which were due for completion this year or early next year. The completion date for Morse Park is December 1969, and we have no assurance when the two complexes at Lei Cheng Uk and Kwun Tong will be ready having in regard the unfortunate experience with the contractors in question. Nothing definite is known about Kennedy Town despite the fact that it is in Category “A”. In addition, Tai Wan which serves a very heavily populated area is in Category "C" and Morrison Hill, Mr. Chairman, is not likely to be ready until towards the end of the swimming season next year.
(Mr. Raymond Y. K. KAN arrived at this point).
Council and the Government have agreed that swimming is the physical recreation attracting the greatest number of people in Hong Kong throughout our long and humid summer. For that reason, Sir,
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Government and the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club undertook this very ambitious programme of swimming pool complexes. Yet, for some reason, jinx, perhaps, our swimming pool programme has always been beset with difficulties and the experience that we are now having with these two complexes at Lei Cheng Uk and at Kwun Tong, reminds this Council of the unfortunate experience at Kowloon Tsai swimming pool, as you may well remember, Sir. For this reason in Select Committee I pressed upon the Government that when the Government takes over the construction of the two swimming pool complexes at Lei Cheng Uk and at Kwun Tong, work should be carried out round the clock in order that the people of Hong Kong, the people living in these highly congested areas, should not be deprived for longer than necessary, in any case not any more than absolutely necessary, of the use of these facilities about which Council feels so strongly. For this reason, I would like you, Sir, to make representations to the Government to think very seriously about the need to carry out round the clock work and secondly, Sir, to up-grade Tai Wan, Hung Hom, now that the decision on Kennedy Town apparently is predicated upon new factors that have not been considered by this Council before.
MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN:--Mr. Chairman, with your permission I would like to say a few words on hawkers. I do wish to take this opportunity to express my appreciation for the close co-operation being given to the Urban Council and the Urban Services Department by the City District Officers, the Police, the Public Works, Fire Services, Social Welfare and Resettlement Departments in implementing the Hawker Policy of this Council.
The hawker problem is serious, but I am confident that with the close co-operation being shown by all concerned to the Hawker Policy and Hawker Management Select Committees, positive results will accrue in the months to come.
I would appreciate your passing on these comments to the relevant heads of department.
One aspect which requires serious consideration is how to stop the flow of young people into the hawking trade, and instead to have them diverted into industry or other productive trades. The Hawker Policy and Hawker Management Select Committees will be considering this as a matter of priority, even though it is recognized that the problem is partially social, related to wage levels and educational standards.
## QUESTIONS
(1) MRS. E. ELLIOTT asked the following question: —
(a) Which areas are now available for the resiting of squatters not eligible for resettlement?
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