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Land Utilization
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Just a cursory survey of Urban Council buildings reveals their generally low level compared to the surrounding skyscrapers in Hong Kong. Unlike the real-estate development projects of the Mass Transit Railway, the joint construction of commercial and residential complexes in conjunction with Urban Council buildings is rare. The principal reason for this absence is found in the existing memorandum of administrative arrangements, by which the Urban Council is allocated land for its exclusive use only. Any uses beyond the designated specification are liable to result in the cancellation of the allocation, except with prior approval of the Financial Secretary. A more relaxed approach towards this restrictive clause on land use is clearly warranted, now that the more efficient and intensive utilization of developed land has been widely acknowledged as an urgent demand in the economy.
I must also point out that by suggesting the development of the air rights on our properties, the Urban Council stands to lose on various aspects. First, the construction of additional storeys above the property will certainly delay the commissioning of our facilities. Secondly, laying private buildings on top of our properties will inevitably dilute our net efficiency ratio for our buildings. On the other hand, joint development with private developers will help to reduce capital expenditure which is a substantial drain on our resources.
Weighing the aggregate benefit, the Government should consider granting the air rights of the properties, either in whole or in part, to the Urban Council so as to enable it to enter into joint ventures with individual developers for achieving the full utilization of the land allocated while reducing the financial burden on the Urban Council.
Festival Entertainment
The disturbance in Central on last Christmas Eve has been blamed by many upon the hooliganism of the 'young and restless'—made worse by the congested traffic and the fierce jockeying between drivers and pedestrians. Nonetheless, the size of the crowd, save its rowdiness, looks pale compared to that which gathered inside the Victoria Park for the pageantry of the Mid-Autumn Festivals or the Lunar New Years Eves. The peace with which fun has been shared among all in these latter cases contrasts remarkably with the tension that loomed over Central on that night before Christmas. Most likely this is due to the variety of attractive entertainment planned and organized by the Council in Victoria Park for the amenity of our citizens. It is hoped that similar activities will be sponsored by the Council on every festive occasion, so that the 'Silent Night' in future will also be spent under universal joy and no unhappy incidents will ever recur.
Liquor Licensing
Following continued discussions to review the minimum age of employment of girls under 18 in bars and nightclubs in the past two years, I hope some action will be taken to amend the Dutiable Commodities (Liquor) Regulations. Not only is this matter of urgent concern, it is an indication of the determination of the Council and the Government to protect our members of the fairer sex in the community.
I support the motion.
MR. STEPHEN M. L. LAU (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, it has been about nine months since the formation of the Kwun Tong District Board. I am honoured to be one of the four appointed Board members and would like to give below a brief account.
Everybody knows that Kwun Tong is a densely populated district with many housing estates and an industrial area set up a long time ago. Hence the problems of environmental hygiene, traffic and shortage of public housing have all along become the focal point in the course of discussions. In recent years, attempts have been made by many illegal immigrants to seek employment in Kwun Tong. In order to find a temporary dwelling place, a larger number of them have also erected illegal squatter huts on the undeveloped hill slopes and crown land in areas like Sau Mau Ping, Lam Tin and Yau Tong. All these factors only make the situation even worse in Kwun Tong, which was not well-planned at the out-set to cope with the present needs. The Urban Council may not be able to solve directly all these complicated problems, but provision of certain facilities within its jurisdiction may offer some help.
(i) Provide more public toilets and bath-houses in the vicinity of squatter areas;
(ii) Set up more temporary refuse collection points;
(iii) Clear the illegal cooked food stalls in the rear lanes of factory buildings;
(iv) Open more food centres and canteens in industrial areas so as to solve the workers' luncheon problem; and
(v) Owing to the fact that the development of the district is out of proportion to supply and demand, many people are found hawking in the streets. The District Board may recommend effective measures to co-ordinate the Council's policy on hawker re-ordering exercises so as to bring some order and improvement to the hawking situation.
On the cultural and recreational front, the Urban Council should, as the occasion arises, make every effort to provide on a more flexible basis suitable venues for such activities which ensure better use of the Urban Council's facilities and which are encouraged by the newly created Government department and promoted by the District Board. The Urban Council should further co-operate with the District Board to make life better and more satisfying for the people.
The jurisdiction of the Urban Council is confined to the urban areas only. However, many facilities such as the Hong Kong Space Museum, Museum of History and indoor stadia are provided on a territory-wide basis. The Hong
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