HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
occupied because there are still two floors at present occupied by R.S.S. When they vacate these car parks, an additional 100 car parks may become available. The provision of car parks is the responsibility of the Government, and they have to bear in mind the demand of the Hung Hom Indoor Stadium when they decide the capacity of the car park. Should there be any changes in the situation, like electrification of K.C.R., an additional demand may occur. I am sure it is up to the Government to decide how to solve the problem of additional car parking spaces.
MR. YOUNG (in English):—Mr. Chairman, has the department actually made any attempt to check the validity of the assumption that 10% of patrons might be car borne? If we did, it might assist us in future planning or making a decision. If not, will the Chairman consider doing this at some venue, say City Hall for instance, in the near future?
MR. HU (in English):--Mr. Chairman, the number of members of the audience using car depends very much on the nature of the function. Some functions will be of interest to high income people, so in that case, the demand for car parking spaces may be high. But in some cases, the functions are aimed at the middle and lower income group, and the demand may be much less. So this 10% is a rough indication and I am sure that the department's figure is based on the experience through the operation of City Hall car park next to the City Hall, and I think that through experience and observation, they assume it to be 10%.
3. MR. WALTER M. SULKE asked the following question (in English):—With reference to the present Mei Fa Campaign and the continuing water shortage in Hong Kong, what steps are being taken to research into growing or procuring plants, shrubs, and trees which are decorative and yet can survive long droughts and stand up to air pollution and possibly even absorb some air pollution?
MR. KENNETH T. C. Lo, Chairman of the RECREATION SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English): -In carrying out amenity planting for the Council, the City Services Department utilizes about 400 different species of trees, shrubs and ground cover plants grown in its own nurseries and supplements these from commercial sources where special effects are desired. The range of plants used is probably unequalled by any similar public body in Asia and the fund of knowledge accumulated in usage is quite substantial.
The artificial environment of the city provides ample evidence of the variable susceptibility of various plants to wind, drought, flooding, shade or pollution or a combination of such factors. Locations tend to be very individual and the choice of plants rests on the judgement and experience of the officer in charge as to how best to overcome site deficiencies. Certainly there is no standard form of display. Indeed one is not desired and every endeavour is made to avoid stereotyped planting.
Page 35 of 142
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Whilst the effects of wind, shade and pollution all affect plants to some degree, even if only to the extent of retarding growth, the most critical requirement is that of water, this being of particular concern with the recent proliferation of large plant containers on the streets. All plants require an adequate supply of water, especially in the growing season, though some are more demanding or susceptible than others, and this is taken into account in selecting plants for individual locations. Wherever possible, a mains water point is provided but, where the total planted area is less than 40 square metres, reliance has to be on water wagons. The current Mei Fa campaign coupled to the period of placed water restriction placed a heavy burden on these vehicles and it is clear that additional wagons will be required before the 1983 planting season.
As a means of reducing the consumption of water used on amenity planting, much greater use is being made of compost produced from the Government's plant at Chai Wan. This compost serves not only to conserve moisture in the soil but also to improve the soil structure and increase plant growth rate. Indeed, plants growing in a mixture of soil and compost retain their vigour and colour (even in seriously polluted conditions) much better than those grown in soil alone. Therefore we are seeking, by choosing well suited plants and growing them in good soil, to get the optimum benefits from each and every site, with quite a high degree of success.
There can be no doubt that in recent years the Department has learned much about growing plants in adverse conditions, especially along highways, and many of the benefits are there to be seen. It is a very complex and variable subject, but I have every confidence that with its increasing number of trained and experienced officers the Department will continue to build on the progress of recent years and further improve on its present good success rate of amenity planting in the city area.
MR. SULKE (in English):-Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank Mr. Lo for the new information given to us, but I don't really feel he is answering my question, which is whether we are going to encourage research into plants, shrubs and trees which can stand long droughts. There are cities like Los Angeles, for instance, where there are trees, shrubs, etc. that are never watered.
MR. Lo (in English):-Mr. Chairman, I think from the tenor of my reply, one can gather that the department is looking into the question and trying to gain experience as to the best kind of plants to use. I think the difficulty in Hong Kong is that we have long periods of drought, but a short period of hot and humid conditions. I do not think we can simply use plants which are suitable in very dry climates like California.
MR. SULKE (in English):---Again, I would like to ask the same question. I believe that it is necessary for us to do some research into this subject. Are we going to do it or not?
Page 36 of 142
Page 35
Page 36