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strength, deployment and utilization, with the aim of giving the people of Hong Kong good and efficient service.
Hong Kong is known for its hard work. Were it not so, Hong Kong would not have come the long way that it has in the years after the war to support such a big population for so small an area without natural resources. Our great asset is our people. Because the people work hard and are realistic in outlook, preferring to live by their own exertions, they have also the right to expect that those who are engaged at their expense to man the public service will perform in the same measure. And, all will agree, it is the department's duty to make sure that this is so, within the areas of the Council's responsibility. Indeed, we know, all in the Urban Services Department will live up to our confidence in them and continue to work hand in hand with us in this new exercise. For, none can disagree with its sole objective: to put our manpower resources to best use for the benefit of the community.
(Mr. Alex S. C. WU arrived at this point.)
PAPER
The following paper was laid on the table:-
Report to the Urban Council by the Director of Urban Services and Secretary, Urban Council, for the month of February, 1975.
QUESTIONS
(1) MR. CHARLES C. C. SIN asked the following question (in English):--
On the 13.6.72 this Council was told that detailed requirements for the redevelopment of Central and Western Markets would be forwarded to the Architectural Office of P.W.D. shortly for preparation of a feasibility study, and on the 8.8.72 this Council was told that detailed investigation of redevelopment of these two markets so far as it concerned the U.S.D. had been completed. May this Council be informed when development of these two markets will begin and when is it expected that redevelopment will be completed?
MR. R. H. LOBO, CHAIRMAN OF THE MARKETS AND ABATTOIRS SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):-
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Mr. Chairman, I am glad Mr. SIN has asked this question. The study which is being made on this project is rather complex.
The USD side of this investigation consisted of a detailed survey of the trading pattern in the three separate market buildings to be redeveloped and also a calculation of the number of businesses, as distinct from individual stalls, which would have to be provided for if the three existing buildings were reprovisioned in a single new Central Market.
The information gathered during the survey indicated:
(a) that a site of at least 120,000 sq. ft. would be required for 3-storey market providing the necessary trading, working and circulation space for the 400 or so businesses entitled to reprovisioning; and
(b) that the site should be located in the vicinity of the existing Western Market (North Block), with ready access to the Waterfront Road and to the waterfront itself for the purpose of supply and redistribution of market commodities brought in from the Aberdeen Fish Market, Kennedy Town Abattoir and the wholesale vegetable and poultry markets at Kennedy Town.
The town planners are trying to accommodate the site in the layout plan now being prepared for Stage V of the Central Reclamation (immediately to the west of the Macau Ferry Terminal), which is still under construction. Until the site itself is fixed, it will not be possible to move on to the architectural and engineering stages of the study.
The actual timing of the redevelopment of Central and Western Market is still uncertain. Apart from the fact that the land is still under formation, the building would be a multi-purpose building which, in terms of the Memorandum of Administrative Arrangements, would have to be financed by Government in the first instance, subject to the reimbursement of the Urban Council's share of the construction costs. The Council's share is estimated at about $25 million at today's prices. It is not known when Government funds could be made available for a project of this magnitude, and for this reason the item had to be
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