1988

64

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN

CHAIRMAN (in English):—Ladies and Gentlemen, the meeting is called to order.

But before taking the first item on the agenda I would like to congratulate two of our colleagues, Mrs. Nellie FONG and Mrs. CHOW CHEUNG Wai-ping, on being appointed as Justices of the Peace. (Applause)

I also like to mention that this is the last time we hold our Monthly Open Meeting in this Chamber in this present configuration. As you all know, modification work of the Chamber will start immediately after this meeting to cope with the forthcoming enlarged council membership in April next year. As the work is unlikely to be completed by September, the next meeting of the Council scheduled for Tuesday, 13 September will be held in Old Legislative Council Chamber in the Main Wing of the Central Government Offices. But to mark this occasion, Mr. George YUEN, our Chief Information Officer has arranged photographers so if you all turn your best profile in that direction so he can take photographs.

MINUTES

The minutes of the meeting held on 14 June 1988, were confirmed.

PAPER

The following paper was laid on the table:

(1) Report to the Urban Council by the Director of Urban Services and

Secretary, Urban Council, for the month of June 1988.

QUESTIONS

1. MR. MAN SAI-CHEONG asked the following question (in English):—Repulse Bay Beach is the most popular beach within our jurisdiction and I would like to know what steps we have taken to urge the Government to immediately spend the necessary sums of money to replace the leaking sewage outfall pipes which are endangering the water quality at that beach? I would also like to know what has happened to the beach study which was commissioned some time ago and the report on which I understand was received by the Department more than 6 months ago? The sand on the beach has deteriorated quite considerably and it is now very stony, and it really is essential that before the next swimming season the sand is replenished. What was the result of the replenishment study and what steps are we taking to improve the quality and appearance of the beach?

Page 65 of 182

MR. SAMUEL P. W. WONG, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION SELECT COMMITTEE replied (in Cantonese):—This Council question concerns the Repulse Bay and is in two parts. The first part concerns the water quality and the second, the beach replenishment study.

With regard to water quality at the Beach, the Department is liaising with the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) with a view to identifying suitable measures to combat the pollution problems at bathing beaches. In April 1988, Members of the Recreation Select Committee were consulted on the EPD's proposal for short-term and long-term measures to tackle such pollution vide Committee Paper REC/249/87, ENH/141/87.

In the short term the EPD will initiate action to intercept and redirect one of the polluting stormwater drains away from the main bathing area of Repulse Bay Beach to the rocky western end of the beach at a cost of $0.8 million. This remedial work is expected to be carried out after the end of the current swimming season. Upon completion of this short-term improvement, the old stormwater drain will be demolished and removed.

Meanwhile increased quantities of chlorine are being injected into the sewage outfall near Middle Island to combat the pollutants. In addition, the leaks in the outfall are to be repaired over the next four months. In parallel to this, arrangements are being made to construct a replacement pipe. This requires a gazetting procedure which will take several months and actual construction will take place at the end of this swimming season.

The long-term solution for the pollution problem at Repulse Bay Beach will require the provision of proper sewage disposal facilities for its hinterland, and possibly the redirection of the remaining stormwater drains and the relocation of the submarine sewage outfall near Middle Island. This will be an important part of the overall plan being developed for the southern part of Hong Kong Island.

In this regard, I would like to inform Members that EPD has appointed consultants to prepare a master plan for a comprehensive sewage disposal scheme for the area as a long-term solution to the pollution problem at the bathing beaches. A Steering Group and an ad hoc working group chaired by the EPD with representatives of various Government Departments as members were formed in May 1988 to provide technical details and monitor the work of the consultants. The sewage master plan is expected to be available by November 1988 and the final report will be ready by April 1989. The cost of its implementation is expected to be between $1 to $1.5 billion.

As a further measure, EPD are seeking to have the south of Hong Kong Island designated as a second water control zone. This will allow more effective control over the domestic sewage discharges from private treatment and disposal facilities in the area. A Committee Paper to seek Council's views on this subject will be presented to the Recreation Select Committee at its meeting tomorrow and a representative of the EPD will attend.

Page 36 of 182 was corrected to be placed at the end of the first paragraph, and 'sweage' was corrected to 'sewage'.