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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN
CHAIRMAN:-Ladies and gentlemen, before moving to the agenda today, I would like to repeat in public our warm congratulations to Mr. ROBSON on his award of the C.B.E. by Her Majesty The Queen in the last Honours List. Many congratulations, Mr. ROBSON. (Applause).
MINUTES
The Minutes of the meeting held on 9th May, 1972, 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, 1972.
MR. A. de O. SALES:-I reported in February on the progress being made in the field of public entertainment under the auspices of this Council.
I mentioned that the programme for 1972-73 would include new ventures within the very worthwhile field of recreational training courses, with the objective of ensuring wide active participation among our youth.
I would now like to report on the swimming training and entertainment programmes then envisaged. First, ten summer swimming parties will be organized to take place in the swimming pools under our management in the urban areas, the first one will be held in Victoria Park on Saturday, 17th June, 1972. It is anticipated that 1,200 youngsters, many of them living in congested areas on Hong Kong Island, especially in the resettlement estates, will be attending; in addition to swimming they will be entertained with music and demonstrations of spring-board diving, lifesaving and scuba diving and will also be treated to light refreshments.
Secondly, five similar beach swimming parties will also be held. These parties have been arranged by the Urban Council with the valuable assistance of the Hong Kong Life Guard Club, the South China Morning Post Limited and the Secretariat for Home Affairs.
This type of function, therefore, will not only provide the youthful participants with wholesome entertainment, but will encourage them to learn to take good care of themselves in the water, to acquire the technique of lifesaving for their own protection, and when the opportunity arises to render this service to the community.
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Thirdly, Council will be interested to learn that, on a more formal basis, two groups of swimming courses are being organized to be held in the evenings in our public swimming pool complexes, catering for beginners and intermediate-level swimmers of all age groups. It is hoped to begin these courses in mid-July, finishing in mid-September, and it is estimated that 2,460 swimmers will receive this training.
Fourthly, there is the 1972 Swimming Safety Campaign. To highlight this campaign a Sunday Spectacular is being arranged at Repulse Bay for 18th June.
Next, the "Urban Council Miniature Football Campaign 1972" has now reached the final round and should finish at the end of July or 48 teams have participated in this competition for soon afterwards. the "Urban Council Cup". It has been organized by the Council in conjunction with the Hong Kong Miniature Football Association. The teams, I am informed, have been drawn from all walks of life.
Also, the volleyball training programme launched last year, will now take the form of a competition starting next month with the enthusiastic assistance of the Hong Kong and Kowloon Volleyball Association.
Finally, there will be 12 "Fun Weeks". They are a novelty item devised by the Recreation and Amenities Division's Entertainment Section as part of our summer programme. The first "Fun Week" will be held on 2nd July in the Mongkok district and the last in September. This programme is in addition to the standard forms of entertainment already in progress and projected for the summer. Each "Fun Week" will include a number of events, such as film shows, swimming parties, band concerts, variety shows, Chinese operas, launch picnics, roller-skating displays, go-karting, and even trips into the countryside.
MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, before I commence my remarks as Chairman of the Hawkers Select Committee, may I mention how surprised I am that the Chairman of the Recreation and Amenities Select Committee neglected to congratulate you for having so gallantly entertained members of the fair sex recently. I think it was a very good effort on the part of the Chairman of the Council.
I would like to make some observations on the Monthly Report on the subject of hawker operations. The clearance of hawkers from the section of Kam Wah Street, Shau Kei Wan, adjacent to the open space next to the newly constructed Shau Kei Wan Market has improved the environment of the area although the operation was primarily aimed at facilitating the reconstruction of the road. The removal of the illegal structures also protects the viability of the market. It is important
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