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and sitting out areas. This year the Council is spending $8.3 million in squatter areas for cleansing services, plus another $2 million paid annually to the Housing Authority for related services under the Squatter Improvement Pilot Scheme.
Action is being taken to replace all wooden toilets in squatter areas with fibre glass ones which will not only look better but be easier to clean. It is planned to provide a total of 706 fibre glass toilet compartments in the urban squatter areas at a current cost of nearly $2 million.
Both Dr. Kim CHAM and Mr. Howard YOUNG made reference to the proposal of the Keep Hong Kong Clean Committee to implement a trial scheme to privatize the cleansing services in one squatter area in the Eastern District. This should ensure that the best possible cleansing service for the residents in that area can be provided for the amount of money spent. Should this pilot scheme of privatization in cleansing services be successful, the Council will study to what extent the system can be introduced selectively in other squatter areas.
Keep Hong Kong Clean
Mr. Kenneth Lo raised the subject of the trial scheme which was recently initiated in the Wan Chai District to use plastic bags for holding refuse collection. The results of this pilot scheme have still to be assessed but should the scheme be regarded as having been a success, it should then be possible to see how the scheme can be developed further on a larger scale in the Wan Chai District. Also, other urban districts will be encouraged to find out how much further the use of plastic bags can be promoted for purposes of refuse disposal.
Mr. Stephen LAU spoke about the problem of eliminating the odour from open nullahs and the problem of collection of flotsam in the harbour. A special working group in Government has been formed to clean up a number of the more popular beaches in time for the on-coming swimming season. I recall about a year ago when I paid a visit to the Repulse Bay Beach with several Urban Councillors, the flotsam was so heavy that it was surprising that there were so many bathers swimming there.
A consultancy report on the extent to which land pollution is a cause of marine flotsam is expected to be ready shortly and it is hoped that certain recommendations will be made to reduce the flotsam not only at the more popular beaches but in the harbour itself. No doubt, the Environmental Hygiene Select Committee and the 'Clean Hong Kong' Committee under the chairmanship of Dr. Denny HUANG and Mr. Howard YOUNG respectively will be examining this problem in greater depth very shortly.
I would like to remind both Councillors and members of the public that there is an Urban Council Clean Hong Kong Campaign telephone hotline---5-95555 not only for recording litter complaints but to receive complaints and suggestions on all Council and Urban Services Department activities.
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Furthermore, should any member of the public wish to bring a suggestion or complaint to my personal attention, he or she should so advise the officer answering the hotline.
Recreation and Sports
The Chairman of the Recreation Select Committee, Mr. Kenneth Lo, gave a good overview on the extent of the role of the Urban Council in providing sporting facilities and recreational open spaces. He quite rightly pointed out that the Council is under considerable pressure from all the District Boards to provide more recreational and sporting facilities in the respective districts, and I am happy to say that already the Council has been able to advance several such projects in its works programme, and that in the new financial year work will begin on a large project at Kowloon Bay for the use of Kwun Tong residents, plus other important improvements in Wan Chai, Kowloon City and Kowloon Park.
The pressure from all the ten urban districts to expedite the provision of such facilities is an immense challenge to the Urban Council and within the resources and capabilities of the Council, we shall do everything we can to meet their aspirations.
International Youth Year
Mr. Howard YOUNG'S suggestion to commemorate the International Youth Year in 1985 on a territory-wide basis has been passed on to Government. I am sure the Urban Council in co-operation with the Government will be prepared to perform a substantial role to commemorate this auspicious year through its many facilities and services, and already an Ad Hoc Committee under the chairmanship of Mr. Stephen LAU was appointed for the purpose.
Let us not forget, however, that two other areas in which the Urban Council has played an increasing role relate to providing more recreational and cultural facilities for the elderly and the handicapped. The Council's policy is to take full cognizance of and to cater for the needs of both the young as well as the senior citizens, and for the handicapped sections of our community.
Culture and Entertainment
Mr. F. K. Hu spoke at length on the wide range of cultural services provided at the various Urban Council entertainment venues. Members are aware that the larger venues, such as the City Hall, Queen Elizabeth Stadium, Coliseum and Ko Shan Theatre are available to residents and groups on a territory-wide basis. There are also district-based cultural venues which are being planned. The feedback from the District Boards has led to the Urban Services Department undertaking a review as to whether future Urban Council district complexes should have a cultural hall with a seating capacity of about 450 to 600 persons. It seems evident that for larger districts, a hall with a seating capacity of 1,000