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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
The Financial Secretary has been reported in the press as being concerned with the inflated state of our economy, partly generated by our own consumption, and that some slowing down would be a useful measure. While I share his concern, I trust this does not imply hammering capital projects to a virtual standstill as in 1974-75. We will find out his views in his Budget speech in March, but as we are budgeting for a substantial deficit of over $133 million in 1979-80, I would suggest we carefully examine every proposal and assess its implications in both capital and recurrent expenditure. We don't want to land ourselves in the position of banging on the door of an unsympathetic Government, itself financially constrained, with a large number of expensive and uncompleted projects.
Our Budget Sub-Committee has a vital part to play in balancing aspirations against the hard financial facts of life, and I look forward to its deliberations focussing on the longer-term consequences of our present expansion programme.
This has been a year of sustained progress, and I should like to pay a tribute, Mr Chairman, to your own contribution in both time and thought in all our deliberations. I think you attend every Select and Sub-Committee meeting and take an active and constructive part in our work. In addition, you seem to cope admirably with the heavy social load that inevitably falls to the lot of our Chairman. In all this, you are ably assisted by an efficient Secretariat headed by Jack Tinson, and I would like to record my thanks to ensure their efforts are also appreciated.
To my Council colleagues, both in and out of the committee room, congratulations on a good year's effort; maybe our work is not as well appreciated as it might be, but we all seem to derive a great deal of personal satisfaction in carrying out Council work.
Finally, to Brian Wilson, his colleagues, and all the staff of the Urban Services Department, a very hearty thank you for their largely unseen and little publicized work in maintaining the essential fabric of our city state.
I support the motion before Council.
(Mr Edmund W. H. Chow left and Mr Chan Chi-kwan arrived during Mr H. M. G. Forsgate's address.)
MR KENNETH T. C. LO (in English):- Mr Chairman, I rise to support the motion before the Council. Those of us who are connected with the planning and development of our swimming pools have always thought that they were something of which we could be justifiably proud. Up to last year, this was just our own opinion. However, we have now received world recognition for our swimming pools.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Recently, the Urban Council has been awarded the top prize from the International Amateur Swimming Federation (FINA). It was given in recognition of our efforts in the development of swimming through the construction of public swimming pools. To receive the top prize from FINA is a great honour indeed. From this award, we can be confident that we are on the right track and that our swimming pools have been properly designed and built.
However, this does not mean that there is no room for improvement. For instance, in our newer swimming pools, there are facilities for the physically handicapped. Some swimming pools have ramps so that those who have to get about in wheelchairs can get right up to the surrounds of the swimming pools.
We are also considering providing more shade for swimmers. At the moment, the hard-surfaced area around the swimming pools gets very hot under the summer sun. There is little shade for people who want to rest for a while between swimming. We are considering providing some simple roofed structure so that there will at least be some shade.
At the moment, we have 9 swimming pool complexes, of which 5 are in Kowloon and 4 in Hong Kong. Another 4 swimming pool complexes are under construction or under planning. These are expected to be completed within the next 2 or 3 years. By that time, swimming facilities will be within reach of everyone within the urban area.
Turning to activities more suitable for the winter, I am pleased to be able to report plans for improving football pitches by using artificial turf. Of course, ideally, football should be played on a good, level, grass pitch. However, such pitches can only be provided for important matches. If grass pitches are overused, they will rapidly turn into dust bowls, particularly in our dry winters. Hard surfaces such as concrete or asphalt are durable and relatively cheap, but they are not really suitable for football. It is no joke to fall down on a gritty asphalt pitch, and football, if played properly, is a game that involves a good deal of falling about.
Artificial turf, we believe, provides the answer, at least to some of the problems. It does not provide as good a surface as grass, but is considerably better than concrete or asphalt. Based on feedback from our existing artificial turf pitch at Morse Park, my Committee has decided to go ahead with a programme of providing artificial turf pitches. Of course, artificial turf pitches are expensive. A full-sized one will cost several million dollars. However, their life expectancy is quite long, even if used daily. No one knows for sure how long they will last, but something like 8 to 10 years' use may be expected. They are maintenance-free and only need a certain amount of cleaning. From the long-term point of view, the original outlay is money well spent.
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