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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
whilst the independent "study room" in Kowloon Park provides 282 seats.
The latter i.e. Kowloon Park Study Room was set up as a pilot scheme in November 1970, and was intended, together with a similar but differently manned scheme to be run by the Education Department, to assess the best way to meet the need for such a service in Hong Kong. The heavy usage experienced by the Kowloon Park "study room" indicated that there was a genuine need for such facilities, and on 21st March, 1972, the Libraries Select Committee recommended that this study room be operated on a permanent basis, with similar provisions to be made in the areas of Happy Valley, North Point, Wan Chai and Sham Shui Po to cater to a total minimum of 1% of the secondary school student population. These recommendations were put to the Colonial Secretariat in April 1972, but no decision was reached because, for comparative purposes, the Secretariat was awaiting the outcome of the Education Department's project. I may add here that we have waited a long time, and the Education Department's Project has not yet materialized.
At its meeting held on 15th May, 1973, the Libraries Select Committee resolved that in view of the urgent need for such facilities, more study rooms should be provided, especially in the planning of additional libraries, and to this end provision has been made for opening at least one independent study room during 1974. In addition, offers of space for study rooms at the To Kwa Wan Market, the Hung Hom Market and at the junction of Kiu Kiang Street and Fuk Wing Street in Sham Shui Po are now being actively examined by the department.
Now, Libraries.
The Urban Council at present operates five libraries. The City Hall Library, which was opened in March 1962 has a combined book-stock of 254,832 volumes in English and Chinese. The Waterloo Road Branch Library, opened in August 1965, at rented premises in Waterloo Road, has a combined bookstock of 93,956 volumes in English and Chinese. The heavy usage experienced by these two libraries, coupled with the strong belief that many more people would become library users if there were more libraries conveniently spread and located throughout the Urban areas, led the Urban Council in 1967 to put forward proposals for a phased development programme for the provision of five additional libraries in various parts of the urban areas of Hong Kong and Kowloon.
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In December 1968, the Governor-in-Council approved in principle the setting up of three libraries. The first of the approved libraries at Wah Fu Estate (the Aberdeen-Pok Fuk Lam Branch Library) was opened in December, 1970. It has a combined bookstock of 41,012 volumes in English and Chinese. The Yau Ma Tei Branch Library, which is designed to be the main library in Kowloon, opened in November 1971 and has a combined bookstock of 75,133 volumes in English and Chinese. The third and last of the three approved additional libraries—the Ping Shek Branch Library-opened in July 1972, and has a combined bookstock of 22,468 volumes in English and Chinese.
The Libraries have a registered membership of some 380,000, and last year issued a total of 2.124 million volumes for home reading, whilst the reference libraries answered 32,433 enquiries and issued 328,471 volumes for use on the libraries' premises.
In the light of the demand for, and success of, its libraries, the Libraries Select Committee at its meeting held on 15th May, 1973, decided that its target should be the opening of one additional branch library each year until there is a library in each urban district. The staffing and financial implications as well as the factors which influence library provision—viz. population density, transportation facilities, and above all the availability of suitable public or private accommodation are now receiving priority consideration by the Select Committee. In particular, the offers of space at the new Aberdeen Market, at the old Ma Tau Kok Abattoir development scheme, the Sai Yee Street Hawker Bazaar, and the Kwun Tong Civic Centre are being examined, and Members may be interested to learn that a firm bid for space for a combined Library and Study Room in the proposed Chai Wan Market/Car-park complex has already been made. In addition, preparations for a photocopy service at the two Main Libraries—City Hall and Yau Ma Tei—and for a gramophone record listening service at the City Hall Library, are in advanced stages.
MOTIONS
(1) DR. P. C. WONG moved the following motion:
"That a 'Containerization' pattern of refuse collecting system should be adopted by using disposable bags and large plastic boxes thus abolishing the use of the conventional rattan baskets."
He said (in English): -Mr. Chairman, I rise to move the Motion standing in my name.
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