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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN
CHAIRMAN (in English):-Ladies and Gentlemen, it is 4 o'clock and I call this meeting to order. I would like to welcome back from leave Mr. Alex S. C. Wu and, if Mr. Hilton CHEONG-LEEN comes back in time, likewise my welcome is extended to him.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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so that they will know how they stand and take appropriate measures
in the public interest.
(Mr. H. M. G. FORSGATE arrived at this point.)
MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting held on 13th November, 1973, confirmed.
STATEMENT BY CHAIRMAN
were
CHAIRMAN (in English):-Where applicable, Select Committees would do well to examine very closely in the current financial year whether the many construction projects, estimated at 163, have been put in hand and when they are due to be completed. I fear it will be found that progress falls short of expectations. Council will prob- ably want to consider how to expedite execution. The Government might even be advised to consider putting the projects out to private practice.
(Mr. Hilton CHEONG-LEEN arrived at this point.)
For sure, we would like the Public Works Department to under- take the construction of our many schemes already approved, to main- tain the excellent working arrangements with them. However, if they themselves decide that they cannot cope with our requirements in the time that we want the jobs to be done, then we must seek outside help. Any undue delay in a sharply rising market would mean in effect that such jobs would cost the Council or the Central Government much more than intended. At the same time, there is the important factor which cannot be ignored: the need to provide the services these physical structures mean to the community. Moreover, we must also plan our manpower requirements and the outlay of our funds. This exercise will be put off by the building programme falling too far behind schedule.
For these reasons, I suggest to our select committees that they take a close look at their respective public works programmes to pinpoint their requirements and to enter into early negotiation with the Public Works Department, through the Director of Urban Services,
PAPER
The following paper was laid on the table:
Report on the work of the Urban Council and Urban Services
Department for the month of November 1973.
MRS. E. ELLIOTT (in English):-Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask for clarification because I happen to be more interested in studying the problems of people than in studying the various diseases of cows and pigs, so could you clarify why the Ward System has been relegated to two lines of rather meaningless figures in the publicity report?
CHAIRMAN (in English):-Thank you for raising that point, Mrs. ELLIOTT. It occurred to me, too, and I will put it to the Director of Urban Services to give more details as previously on this important aspect of our work.
QUESTIONS
(1) MR. PETER P. F. CHAN asked the following question (in English):-
The fountain stage in Statue Square has proved to be very successful and popular in the two Festivals of Hong Kong in the past and also in the third Festival of Hong Kong just finished. Such a fountain stage if made permanent with ancilliary facilities may prove to be a permanent popular spot for members of the community especially during sundays and public holidays when Chater Road is closed for traffic. It will also be valuable to local performing artistes because it appears that the City Hall facilities may not be able to meet their demand. Can the Urban Council consider these aspects, and design the fountain stage to be a permanent structure?
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