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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN
CHAIRMAN (in English):-Ladies and Gentlemen, the meeting is called to order.
MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting held on 8 May 1990, 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 May 1990.
QUESTIONS
1. MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question (in English):- Where are there facilities for skateboarding in urban Kowloon and Hong Kong Island, and are there plans for additional skateboard facilities?
MR. PETER C. K. CHAN, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION SELECT COMMITTEE replied as follows (in English):—Mr. Chairman, this question concerns skateboarding facilities. The first part asks where such facilities exist. The second concerns plans for additional ones.
As to existing facilities, the Council has designated four places for skateboarding. On Hong Kong Island, the mini-soccer pitch at the Kennedy Town temporary recreation ground is available on Tuesday and Thursday evening between 5 and 11 o'clock, and on Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
In Kowloon, the roller skating rinks at Anchor Street, Sai Yee Street, and Cheung Sha Wan playground are open to skateboarders at any time.
Skateboarders can also book time on any of the Council's hard-surface pitches. They can do this through their local district office in competition with other members of the public.
For the immediate future, the Council plans to develop two purpose-built skateboard rinks. The first will be at the south end of Repulse Bay beach, near the Lifeguards Club. It is part of the major project for improving the beach's facilities and should be ready late next year. The second rink will be at Morrison Hill Road garden, near the Queen Elizabeth Stadium. It will serve both skateboarders and BMX cyclists and should be ready by mid-1991.
In the long term, the Council intends to develop facilities at Lai Chi Kok and in Western District. These will form part of major reclamation projects which are now in the planning stage.
MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN (in English):—Mr. Chairman, is there any strong demand at the present time for such skateboarding facilities and if that is the case, are there any temporary areas which could be used for such purposes?
MR. PETER C. K. CHAN (in English):-Mr. Chairman, as the answer suggests, the skateboarders can use various places together with other skate rollers. They can also compete with other users for the hard-surface pitches. As far as the demand is concerned, we do have one or two letters addressed to the Department or to the Council in private. There is one letter in the South China Morning Post addressed to the editor by a reader and the Department has answered those questions on behalf of the Council.
2. MR. STEPHEN F. C. HO asked the following question (in Cantonese):- I believe that Council ordered a number of Refuse Collection Vehicles for delivery early this year. I have not seen any of these vehicles on the road. Please could I know what has happened to them?
DR. RONALD D. B. LEUNG, CHAIRMAN OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH SELECT COMMITTEE replied as follows (in English):-Mr. Chairman, the question concerns the delivery of refuse collection vehicles ordered in 1989–90.
The Council placed an order for 25 Mercedes-Benz/Haller refuse collection vehicles in August 1989. The manufacturer experienced difficulties in the production of the vehicles and this has resulted in a delay of approximately 4 months in their arrival in Hong Kong. I am pleased to report, however, that 6 vehicles arrived early last month. They are now undergoing acceptance tests by the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department and will soon be put into service. 4 more vehicles are presently being transported to Hong Kong and should arrive shortly. 6 vehicles are scheduled to arrive in early June and the manufacturer has given an undertaking that the remaining 9 vehicles will be delivered by the end of July.
The Council also ordered 25 Dennis Eagle Phoenix refuse collection vehicles in February this year. The first 7 vehicles will arrive in Hong Kong by the end of June and the remaining 18 will arrive by the end of September.
The two orders totalling 50 vehicles I mentioned earlier represent the Council's refuse collection vehicle procurement in 1989–90. These 50 vehicles will take the pressure off our aging fleet and should improve efficiency and reduce the maintenance expenditure.
In respect of the refuse collection vehicle procurement in 1990-91, a tender exercise for 56 replacement refuse collection vehicles has just been completed, and a Council paper was submitted to Finance Select Committee for Members'
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