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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
(1) Will the Council review the standard of security of these lockers? (2) How will the Council deploy its manpower resource (e.g. by dispatching stationary care-takers to perform patrol duty) so as to deal with the abovesaid problem?
(3) In what circumstances will the staff of swimming pools take care of swimmers' property on their behalf? Is this a service generally provided by swimming pools?
(4) Apart from the publicity against theft on the beach, will the Council give particular publicity on the security problem of the property kept in the changing rooms of swimming pools?
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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could be of use. The Department has examined several systems, and found the one at Water World of particular interest. The suppliers claimed that no local locksmith can duplicate their keys. If our locks can be modified to match those keys, the current problem could be greatly reduced. Water World's suppliers are examining our lockers and to see if this can be done, if so, at what price. Of course, we can think of changing all the cylinders or all the locks, but that would be expensive. We only recently bought our existing one at $280 each and those at the Water World cost about $700 each. Clearly, it is more prudent to look for less expensive solutions. But anyway, as regards the number lock and others, I have noted down and the Department will look into them to see if they are workable.
5.
MR. PETER C. K. CHAN, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION SELECT COMMITTEE replied as follows (in English):—Mr. Chairman, this question concerns the security of the changing rooms in UC swimming pools. The first part asks about the standard of security of coin-return lockers and how swimmers' (a) valuables are being looked after. The second is about publicity on the security problem of property kept in the changing rooms of swimming pools.
On the question of standard I am pleased to say that the Department now changes the lock cylinders more often in order to foil the use of duplicate keys which is the most common method of theft. The Department has also asked the locker supplier to explore less expensive ways of modifying the cylinders and to try devising keys which cannot be duplicated.
There is an attendant on full-time duty in each of the changing rooms in the swimming pools. The department has instructed them to be more alert and to report suspicious activities as soon as they notice them. To reinforce this, our pool supervisors will check the changing rooms more frequently.
Pool supervisors are also instructed to exercise their discretion to look after valuables of swimmers on request.
As regards publicity, the Department has made several statements through the mass media, advising people not to bring valuables to our swimming pools. The Police have issued similar advice through the television programme ‘Crime Watch'. At the same time, they have agreed to make more frequent random checks on our swimming pools.
MR. FUNG KWONG-CHUNG (in Cantonese):--Mr. Chairman, I am glad to hear about the measures taken, but I have some doubts on two points. It is said that the Department will more frequently change the lock cylinders in order to foil the use of duplicate keys. Can we use codes for locks? Secondly, it is said that there is an attendant in the changing room. For smaller public swimming pools, there appears to be no problem. But for larger one, like the Kowloon Park, we have more than 3,000 lockers. I wonder if one attendant is enough to take care of it. Can we use closed circuit TV?
MR. PETER C. K. CHAN (in English):—Mr. Chairman, I note down Mr. FUNG'S points and will refer them to the Department. However, some information
(b)
MR. B. A. BERNACCHI asked the following question (in English):—
In view of the decrease in customers of temporary and permanent markets in the Chai Wan district, and some other areas under the Urban Council, can the increase in rent in those areas be postponed until the Urban Services Department have sufficient members to provide General Duty Teams outside these markets on a permanent basis?
What improvements in this regard can be expected, now that the members of the General Duty Teams already employed, are to be given a special allowance and when will the improved measures be implemented?
MR. LAM CHAK-PIU, VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE MARKETS AND STREET TRADERS SELECT COMMITTEE replied as follows (in Cantonese):--Mr. Chairman, part (a) of the question asks whether or not market rental increases might be deferred in respect of those markets where there is hawker competition in the vicinity and in light of the decrease in business of such markets. The market rental formula was considered and adopted by Council earlier this year. In general terms, the annual increase in rentals for tenants entering into new tenancy agreements is very modest and is in the order of 10% per annum over the course of the tenancy. In adopting the valuations upon which the rental formula is based, the Commissioner for Rating and Valuation takes into account all relevant circumstances relating to the value of the stall including external competition be it from shops or hawkers.
In respect of our markets in general terms and Chai Wan Temporary Market and Yue Wan Market in particular, irrespective of the illegal hawker problem which is acknowledged, there is absolutely no evidence that the two markets in question are unviable or that the level of business has been declining. Indeed, the contrary would seem to be true, as the occupancy rate for Yue Wan Market is 85.7% whereas that for Chai Wan Temporary Market is 94.6%. There is no strong justification for postponing the implementation of market rental revision.
The Council has made a conscious effort to protect the viability of its market by the creation and deployment of GDT squads to keep unlicensed hawkers away. This is done either in the form of static and patrol duties in the vicinity or
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