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DR. HUANG (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, according to what I know, I do not think the "Clean Your City" Groups have the right to check out any prosecutions against any person. So I don't think their presence on the street has any effect on those people who throw things out.
MR. PETER C. K. CHAN (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask if the C.Y.C. volunteers witness such an occurrence, can they approach the Police Station and act as witnesses. If this is the case, can this be dealt with in Court?
CHAIRMAN (in English):-These supplementary questions have been most interesting. But, as you will know, none of them are within Standing Orders. (Laughter). Nevertheless, we have a very short agenda this afternoon so I thought it would be good fun to listen to our friend, Ambrose CHOI, give such witty answers. (Laughter).
(2) MR. JOHN MACKENZIE asked the following question (in English):
What progress is being made in the implementation of Council policy to provide Swimming Pool facilities for each urban area with a population of 250,000 residents? How many heated pools are, or will be, available; and are there any plans to convert existing non-heated pools for all-year-round use?
MR. KENNETH T. C. Lo, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION AND AMENITIES SELECT Committee, replied as follows (in English) :-
Mr. Chairman, substantial progress is being made in the implementation of Council policy to provide Swimming Pool facilities for each urban area with a population of 250,000 residents.
There are now 3 swimming pool complexes on Hong Kong Island to serve a total population of about 1 million; and the Aberdeen Swimming Pool is also nearly ready, so the target of one swimming pool complex per 250,000 residents will be met for Hong Kong Island by January 1977. Other pools planned for the future will be at Chai Wan and on the Wan Chai Reclamation.
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In Kowloon we have not done quite as well as yet. There are four swimming pool complexes at present in use, and the Tai Wan Swimming Pool should be completed by June 1977. As the population is about 2.2 million, there will then still be a shortfall of four complexes. The Council has in mind that the shortfall will be met by pools at Hammer Hill and at Kowloon Park for which planning is in hand, and possibly also at Lai Chi Kok and at Sham Shui Po should suitable sites be made available.
The only heated pool at present is the Morrison Hill Swimming Pool. However, the main pool of all future swimming pool complexes, including those at Aberdeen and Tai Wan now under construction, will be heated. There are no plans to convert any existing non-heated pools for all-year round use.
MR. MACKENZIE (in English):-Mr. Chairman, I think it is a case for congratulations to the Council that we will have completed nine swimming pools by mid 1977. But I would ask that, in view of the popularity of swimming pools, and particularly the increasing saturation on beaches, not to mention pollution, if the Select Committee could review the priorities for the remaining balance of six pools and, more particularly, the four pools in Kowloon?
MR. Lo (in English):-Mr. Chairman, we would certainly wish to commence the four swimming pool complexes, mentioned as soon as possible. In fact, there are some tentative dates for some of them. The Hammer Hill Swimming Pool is estimated to be completed in 1981, Kowloon Park the following year. The other two mentioned are Lai Chi Kok and Sham Shui Po Swimming Pools. I am afraid I cannot give a starting date for these, but we will certainly get on with them as soon as the sites are made available.
DR. DENNY M. H. HUANG (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I am glad to hear that people living in Hong Kong Island may have one swimming pool for every 250,000 people, but people living in Kowloon are less fortunate.
MR. Lo (in English):-Mr. Chairman, I am not sure how to answer that question for you. (Laughter). Well, it is not a question of giving priority to Hong Kong Island because, up to quite recently, Hong Kong had relatively fewer swimming pools for the population than Kowloon. We certainly wish to build the swimming pool complexes in Kowloon as soon as possible. Of the four remaining ones,
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