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MR. JOSEPH CHAN (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, in the Kowloon Central Library, we have this kind of service, i.e. if you need particular editions or even some very rare reference books, we have this kind of service for you in the Kowloon Central Library. It is only necessary to give the author's name to the staff and that will be alright.
MR. SULKE (in English):—Mr. Chairman, what evidence does Mr. CHEONG-LEEN have that small print is bad for eyes? According to my information, they have very little to do with each other.
THE HONOURABLE HILTON CHEONG-LEEN (in English):—On a point of explanation, with your permission, Mr. Chairman. It has nothing to do with me but with the representation from members of the public.
6. THE HONOURABLE HILTON CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question (in Cantonese):—I have received representations requesting the Urban Council not to consider closing down the small library in Yik Yam Street in Happy Valley next year; will the Libraries Select Committee consider this request in a favourable light?
MR. JOSEPH Y. S. CHAN, CHAIRMAN OF THE LIBRARIES SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese):—This question concerns the provision of library services in the Wan Chai District.
The Council's policy is to provide one district library of 1,500 m2 for every 200,000 persons, and at least one such library in each urban district. These libraries are to be ultimately accommodated in suitable Urban Council buildings in the various districts.
The Wan Chai District is at present served by two interim libraries on rented premises. The first, the Wan Chai Public Library, has a total area of 1,102 m2, and in terms of area, standard of accommodation and facilities compares unfavourably with the planned provision for the district. To meet the shortfall, the second interim library, the Happy Valley Public Library, was opened in 1982. This occupies an area of 106 m2, and serves essentially as a small lending services outlet.
According to the projected population, confirmed by the 1986 By-Census Preliminary Count as being 197,000, the Wan Chai District is entitled to one district library. Accordingly, the Libraries Select Committee decided in December 1984, that the existing two interim libraries should be closed, and re-provisioned in the Council's Lockhart Road Complex. The new district library in the Lockhart Road Complex, which is expected to open in November 1986, will occupy a total area of 1,600 m2 and an adult lending library, a junior lending library, a quick reference collection, a newspapers and periodicals section, an extension activities room and a students' study room. There will also be an audio-visual library, which is not a feature of the existing Wan Chai Public Library.
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be an audio-visual library, which is not a feature of the existing Wan Chai Public Library.
We are aware of the representations referred to and a signature campaign organized for retention of the Happy Valley Library. Prior to this, the department had in fact initiated a study to assess the usage and likely effect of the closure of the Happy Valley Library, in pursuance of an undertaking given in this Council on 12 March 1985. The results of this study will be considered by the Libraries Select Committee at its meeting this month. But, meanwhile, I should mention that the Council is under notice from the landlord to vacate the premises occupied by the Happy Valley Library, at the expiry of the current lease on 28 February 1987.
7. THE HONOURABLE HILTON CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question (in Cantonese): What is being done not only to plant more trees and shrubs in the urban area from year to year, but also to preserve the standard of the 'greenery' of Hong Kong at a high level?
MR. SAMUEL P. W. WONG, VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese):—This question relates to amenity planting in the urban area and is in two parts. The first part concerns the planting of more trees and shrubs from year to year. Planting figures for the past several years reflect the substantial effort made by Council to increase the level of 'greenery' in the urban area. The actual planting figures are as follows:
1982 1983 1984 1985
497,000 568,000 789,000, and 790,000
And in 1986, it is planned to plant 27,000 trees and 798,000 shrubs totalling some 825,000 separate plantings which compares very favourably with the already high level of plantings achieved in previous years.
In order to sustain this steady increase from year to year, continuous efforts are made to create new planting sites along highways, on vacant crown land, and on the surrounds to new Council projects in consultation with the Highways Department, District Boards and others.
The second part of the question asks what is being done to preserve the standard of the 'greenery' of Hong Kong at a high level. In addition to the increasing level of plantings already described, particular attention is now being given to the quality as well as the quantity of planting. The successful ‘greening' of Hong Kong over the last few years, which has made such a significant visual impact, will in future allow some scope for a partial shift of emphasis to improve aftercare and maintenance. And Members will be interested to know that the Management Services Unit of the Urban Services Department has been asked