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officers who are actually responsible for organizing the type of activity to which I refer". Mr. SALES has expressed the view of the whole Select Committee that this need is an urgent one. Could you, Sir, inform this Council whether the Colonial Secretariat, or whoever the person is who has the right to grant staff for this facility, shares our view as far as you know.
CHAIRMAN:-The question is out of order, Mr. CHAN, but the position is that we have not asked for extra staff, because at that time it was not decided that this Department would be responsible for running play-leadership.
MR. C. K. CHAN:--In that case, Sir, when is the question of which department is going to be responsible for play-leadership to be decided, as far as you know, Sir.
CHAIRMAN:-It was decided last year that the Social Welfare Department would take this particular job on. The Select Committee has now asked that this whole matter be reopened and reconsidered, and this we have done, I think.
MR. BERNACCHI:-I would like clarification. Are we, as a Council, responsible or does it come into our jurisdiction, the responsibility to organize play-leadership. If it does, then presumably we ought to have some say in deciding which department it comes under.
CHAIRMAN:--Our task is to provide the facilities at the moment.
MR. HU:-Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask Mr. SALES a supplementary if I may. Why is the training or establishment of play-leadership scheme the responsibility of the Social Welfare Department?
MR. SALES:-May I answer that, Mr. Chairman? First I would like to clarify the position on the supplementary questions which my other colleagues have put. The play-leadership scheme was advocated when it was still in its infancy in Europe, and the Department made a very close study of the experience that has been gained elsewhere at the start. The booklet on the scheme is still available to the Members of the Council if they wish to read it. I would be very happy to lend it to them. Now, it was felt that at that time, because of the strong interest on the part of the Social Welfare Department and its development of its youth division, the work could best be done by the Social Welfare Department in conjunction, or entirely on its own, with other organizations such as the Y.M.C.A., the Children's Playground Association and so on—these organizations have schemes of their own already in existence in various degrees of application. But the time that has passed since the Select Committee agreed that the Social Welfare Department should organize a pilot scheme, has caused the Select Committee to take into account the views of members that perhaps this matter should now go forward at a very much more accelerated pace, and in strength, rather than a pilot scheme, because events have caught up with us. So the Select Committee made two recommendations, one, that this matter must be got off the ground as quickly as possible and in strength and, secondly, whichever department Government it was decided should be given the responsibility must be given adequate support to start this scheme right away without delay because of the malpractices which have been brought to your attention, Mr. Chairman, in my presence, apart from other reports that have been made to us. So I hope that I have clarified the position at this stage.
MR. HU:-Thank you, Mr. SALES.
(13) MR. PETER P. K. NG asked the following question:
Will the Chairman give us the definite completion dates of the 4 swimming pool complexes at Kennedy Town, Lei Cheng Uk, Kwun Tong and Morse Park?
THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS replied as follows:
This question concerns the completion dates of the four swimming pool complexes at Kennedy Town, Lei Cheng Uk, Kwun Tong and Morse Park.
The development of the Morse Park complex is well advanced and should be completed by the beginning of July this year.
If current progress is maintained in the construction of the pools at Kwun Tong and Lei Cheng Uk, these pools are expected to be completed in September and October respectively.
The site for the complex at Kennedy Town is expected to be available in June, and site formation work will commence as soon as possible thereafter. The project is expected to be completed by the end of 1971.
MR. NG: Mr. Chairman, can you tell the Council how long does it take for the pool to be in use after completion?
CHAIRMAN:-It would take a few weeks to get ourselves organized and staff in position. Perhaps, two, perhaps three weeks, I understand.
MR. NG: Can I ask the Director of Public Works if current progress has been maintained in the construction of the pools at Kwun Tong and Lei Cheng Uk?
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