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# HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
## ADDRESS BY CHAIRMEN
CHAIRMAN (in English):-Good afternoon, Ladies and Gentlemen. The meeting is called to order. I hope members have taken full advantage of the August recess and have come back invigorated to tackle the questions and challenges for the rest of the year. I wish to extend my welcome to a new member, Mr. Walter M. SULKE who was appointed to this Council last month and who is attending his first meeting today. I would also like to congratulate Mr. F. K. Hu on his re-appointment to the Legislative Council and also Miss Maria TAM and Mrs. Selina CHOW on their appointments to the Legislative Council with effect from 1 September 1981.
## MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting held on 14 July 1981 were confirmed.
## STATEMENT BY CHAIRMAN
CHAIRMAN (in Cantonese):—
### Promoting Community Development
With the formation of all ten Urban District Boards within the next few months, the Urban Council will be facing an unprecedented challenge in promoting community development at the district level. This will be done by way of seeking more grass-roots participation in the Council's efforts to improve the living environment, and to co-operate with other Government departments in providing more sports and cultural activities.
For example, this year the Council's Lantern Carnival to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival will be held in venues at four or five urban districts. Next year, I anticipate that many more District Boards will want to organize their own Lantern Carnivals and they will undoubtedly receive the close co-operation and support of the Urban Council.
District Boards may also want to establish their own Children's Choir or Chinese Orchestra. They may plan to organize their own Youth Dances, Chess Competitions, Photography Competitions, Painting Exhibitions, or other District activities. In this respect, the Urban Council will assist by way of providing venues or financial subsidies to the responsible groups concerned.
In all the Districts I have visited, District Representatives have been urging a faster pace in rebuilding and modernizing the old markets, and in re-organizing areas where there are many hawkers so as to make the streets cleaner and more orderly.
They also ask for more district swimming pool complexes, district libraries, district halls for concerts and other community functions.
I believe that these demands by District Representatives are a healthy sign of greater interest and involvement in district affairs. With a budget of over $1,700 million (including on-costs) over the next five years for numerous large and small projects to be constructed in the ten urban districts, the Urban Council stands poised to meet the challenge of promoting community development and democratic participation at the district level.
## PAPERS
(Mr. CHAN Chi-kwan and Mr. Augustine S. K. CHUNG arrived during the Chairman's address.)
The following papers were laid on the table:-
(1) Report to the Urban Council by the Director of Urban Services and Secretary, Urban Council for the months of July and August 1981.
## QUESTIONS
1. MISS CECILIA L. Y. YEUNG asked the following question (in Cantonese):-- It has been brought to my notice that some street litter bins have not been provided with ash trays. From the 'Clean Hong Kong' Campaign's point of view, may the Council be informed whether it is possible to provide ash trays for all street litter bins?
DR. DENNY M. H. HUANG, CHAIRMAN OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese): This question concerns the provision of ash trays on litter bins.
There are approximately 6,000 street litter bins in use on Hong Kong Island and 9,000 in Kowloon. Miss YEUNG is quite correct in pointing out that not all litter bins are provided with ash trays. This is mainly because they are frequently stolen or damaged, and the department is now in the process of obtaining replacements. Bearing in mind the forthcoming 'Clean Hong Kong' Campaign, the department aims to fit all litter bins with ash trays by the end of this year.
MISS YEUNG (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, according to my own survey, some ash trays might have been stolen, but some litter bins just did not have any ash trays for people to throw their cigarette stubs, which could even burn the litter in the litter bins, so I hope ash trays would be provided.
DR. HUANG (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I can assure Miss YEUNG that before the end of the year all the litter bins would be provided with ash trays.
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