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MR. SAMUEL P. W. WONG, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, from the opening on 1 April 1986 Wong Nai Chung Reservoir Park boating and refreshment kiosk facilities were in full operation until 31 December 1988 when the operator exercised his right to withdraw from the contract on the grounds of inadequate business.
Fresh tenders were subsequently called on two occasions (in November 1988 and March 1989) but no offers were received. However on a third invitation to tender being issued in May 1989 one offer was received and on 30 June Members of the Tender Board Panel agreed to accept this offer. Contracts were subsequently exchanged on the 10th of July and the park is expected to re-commence full operation by the 29th of the month.
MR. ARTHUR CHAM YAU-TONG (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, I have a supplementary question. I want to know the financial loss incurred by the Urban Council after the withdrawal of contract of this park. Secondly, has this Council considered adding other facilities, such as fishing in this park?
MR. SAMUEL P. W. WONG (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, the previous contract enabled the Urban Council to have a revenue of about $12,800 per month. Due to the early termination of the contract, the total loss incurred by the Council is about $40,000. Regarding the second question, whether we can have other activities in this park apart from boating, unfortunately, the bank of this reservoir is quite steep and particularly if the reservoir is full, there is no foreshore. Unless there is a provision of life jacket as well as life guards, it would be dangerous if we allow people to fish there. Recently, however, we have organized some joint activities with the Remote Control Boating Association, which have been a great success.
MR. TONG KAM-BIU (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, the operator claimed that there was inadequate business. Do the Council as well as the Department believe that the grounds advanced by the operator are acceptable. If the answer is in the positive, can we take measures to improve the situation, by adding other activities so that the operator as well as the users will find the park more attractive? Secondly, have special terms been incorporated in the new contract to make improvements so that there will be no recurrence of the problem? Has the Select Committee considered in this regard?
MR. SAMUEL P. W. WONG (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, this reservoir is quite small and I would agree that it is quite boring if only boating activity is conducted there. This is the reason why the previous operator did not have sufficient business. As regards the current contract, the new operator has suggested that there should be new or additional activities. The Department is now considering this matter. If this can materialize, the new operator will have a better chance of success.
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9. MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question (English):—
(a) Besides the Keep Hong Kong Clean Campaign sponsored jointly by the Urban Council and the Regional Council, what else is being done by the Urban Council by way of Environmental Education within the overall strategy of the Government's White Paper on Pollution?
(b) How much is being spent by the Urban Council annually on Environmental Education?
DR. RONALD D. B. LEUNG, CHAIRMAN OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English): Mr. Chairman, part one of the question asks 'What the Environmental Education our Council has been doing?'
With financial resources contributed by the two Municipal Councils, the Health Education Unit of the Municipal Services Branch undertakes a territory-wide health education programme each year to educate the public on the need of good health practices and hygienic environment. The health education programme was made before the issue of the White Paper, but it bears relevance to the environmental education.
In its 1989-90 Health Education Programme, the Health Education Unit proposes six major Environmental Education themes. The proposed programme has been approved by the Environmental Hygiene Select Committee at its meeting held on 2 February 1989.
The following are the major items and the themes which I am going to briefly outline:
(a) The Mosquito Prevention Education Campaign, phases I and II, which aims at educating building contractors, building managements and the general public to prevent mosquito breeding. This campaign is to be launched in April and September of the year.
(b) 'Get Your Air-conditioners Ready for the Summer' Education Campaign which aims at prevention of nuisances generated from defective air-conditioning units. The target people are the general public and management of shopping arcades, etc. This campaign was launched in May of the year.
(c) 'Keep The Toilet Clean' Drive is directed at promoting public concern on the importance of keeping toilets clean. The target people are the general public and especially the management of the public and the communal toilets at public places. This campaign is to be launched in July to September of the year.
(d) 'The 1989 Inter-School Health Education Speech & Song Contests' which is intended to promote public health awareness among primary and secondary school children. The contests will be held from October to December of the year.
(e) 'Rat Prevention' Education Campaign which aims at rat prevention. The target people are the general public. This campaign is to be held...
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