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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Members in this questionnaire have now been given very careful consideration by the Select Committee. The effectiveness of the present system has been assessed as have the faults been brought out. I am pleased to be able to say that, on the whole, the result of the questionnaire indicated that the present Ward System is operating satisfactorily. Where warranted, measures are being taken to introduce the improvements Members have suggested from their own experience. The Select Committee will now consider how the present ward system relates to an Ombudsman or Commissioner for Administration, and will report its findings on the necessity to strengthen the system by the appointment of an Ombudsman or Commissioner, or any other type of post, if such an appointment is determined after further consideration. If this Council agrees with the report of the Select Committee it will then be submitted to the Government.
(15) MR. SOLOMON RAFEEK asked the following question:-
Some daring robberies are occurring in the car parks maintained by the Council. Only the other day there were reports of a holdup in the car park next to the Hilton Hotel, and another in the new Rumsey Street car park. Because of insufficient supervision on all levels, there is almost nothing to prevent would-be robbers from hiding behind other cars, and attacking motorists returning to their vehicles after dinner parties and balls late at night. Attendants on the ground floor have no physical means of being everywhere all the time. And in the car park next to the Hilton Hotel, there is an extra egress for would-be robbers by a connexion on the fourth floor to the access road to St. John's Cathedral and Colonial Secretariat buildings. Will the Chairman say, in view of this, what steps he proposes to take to reduce the dangers to the public parking vehicles in the Council's car parks?
MR. A. de O. SALES, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION AND AMENITIES SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows:-
Sir, the only car park where a number of robberies has been reported is the one at Garden Road, where four robberies, three of them after midnight, took place between May 5th and June 2nd. Since then, there have been no further robberies at this car park, nor has the department had any report of a robbery at the newly-opened Rumsey Street car park.
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The recent spate of robberies at the Garden Road car park has, of course, been reported to the Police, who have mounted additional patrols in the area. The Carpark Attendants have also been redeployed to give a considerable increase in night patrolling of the floors. In addition, the gate on the fourth floor mentioned by Mr. RAFEEK is now closed at 7 p.m., and cars entering the park in the evening and at night are directed to the first and second floors so as to concentrate the number of cars to be watched.
MR. RAFEEK: Thank you, Mr. Chairman, I have no supplementaries.
(16) MR. SOLOMON RAFEEK asked the following question:-
Shau Kei Wan residents have frequently complained of the filth on the road leading to the Holy Cross Church. On Sundays, the road is virtually impassable because of the filth accumulated during the week, and presents an eyesore and a health hazard to residents keeping the Sabbath. Will the Chairman say if he will see that this state of affairs is corrected as soon as possible?
DR. DENNY M. H. HUANG, CHAIRMAN OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows:-
Mr. Chairman, this question concerns the accumulation of rubbish on the road leading to the Holy Cross Church. There are two roads leading to Holy Cross Church (Holy Cross Path and Tai Shek Street) and, although these are swept four times daily and washed once weekly, it is agreed that the cleanliness of these roads leaves something to be desired due to the hawkers who trade in the area.
Senior cleansing staff visited the area on 27th June, when it was found that the entrance to the lane from Tai Shek Street leading to the Church was completely blocked by goods and paraphernalia belonging to a vegetable hawker. Immediate action was taken with the assistance of the Hawker Control Force to remove the obstruction caused by this hawker and the site was cleaned thoroughly. The area has been kept under observation since then to ensure that the entrances to the Church are kept clear and as clean as possible.
MR. RAFEEK:-Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
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