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replied as follows (in Cantonese):-There are three parts of this question and we will answer each of them separately.
The first part asks whether the Central and Western district's Recreation and Sport section has encountered difficulties in organizing children's swimming courses and whether there is any shortfall of provision there in relation to other districts.
MR. CHAN TAK-CHOR (in Cantonese):--Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to ask Mr. CHAN what is the progress with regard to the installation of a movable floor in the diving pool of Kennedy Town Swimming Pool?
MR. PETER C. K. CHAN (in Cantonese):-It is now being designed. If the design is finalized, it will be installed as soon as possible. At tomorrow's meeting, we may try to ask the Department to update us.
MR. CHAN TAK-CHOR (in Cantonese):-Regarding the answer to the third part of my question, the children's and paddling pools are too small to accommodate even one teaching pool. Actually, I have been there myself, and I personally think the paddling pool which is of a large size could perhaps be reconsidered to see whether it could be converted into a teaching pool.
In 1989 and 1990, we have been able to organize 36 courses for the Central and Western district. By contrast, Wan Chai district, which has a smaller population, has 52 courses. [Figures for other districts are at Annex A]. There is no standard rate of provision for these courses but as far as is practicable, we would try to organise an average of 1 course for every 520 children aged 14 below. On that basis, there is clearly a shortfall in Central and Western.
In view of the shortage of facilities and the shortage of suitable sites in C & W to plan for the provision of more swimming pools, the Department is looking into ways and means to maximize the use of existing facilities for swimming classes, e.g., consideration to install a movable floor in the diving pool of the Kennedy Town Swimming Pool, which would allow us to use it for a range of new activities, including teaching beginners.
MR. PETER C. K. CHAN (in Cantonese):-This is the Department's view. Perhaps Mr. CHAN and I can have a site visit to see exactly how big the pool is and see whether it can be converted into a teaching pool.
MR. CHOW WAI-KEUNG (in Cantonese):—In view of the fact that in Central and Western District, we only have the Kennedy Town Swimming Pool and because of a lot of constraints, it is impossible to have a children's teaching pool. Besides, it is also not possible to build a swimming pool at the Smithfield Joint-User Building because of its huge cost. May I therefore make the following suggestion for Mr. CHAN and his Select Committee. There is a diving pool in the Kennedy Town Swimming Pool Complex and the utilization rate is very low and so perhaps we can convert it into a teaching pool or have the movable floor installed to meet the demands of the residents. I hope that Mr. CHAN and his Select Committee can undertake to finish the study within three to six months. In fact, the suggestion was made by residents a couple of years ago. Originally, they wanted to have a teaching pool in the Smithfield Joint-User Building, but since now because of financial considerations that cannot be done. So perhaps we should think of the conversion suggestion.
The second part asks whether the Council has considered allocating space in the Smithfield Joint-User Building for a children's teaching pool.
The Department did consider this. But the proposal was not taken up because it would have been prohibitively expensive, estimated at about $23 million at 1988 prices. For this reason, no provision for a pool was included in the Schedule of Accommodation which Members approved at their meeting on 20 June 1990.
The third part asks whether the Council will consider converting one of the existing facilities at Kennedy Town--such as the children's and paddling pools-into a teaching pool.
Unfortunately, there is not enough space. The area occupied by the children's and paddling pools is too small to accommodate even one teaching pool.
MR. PETER C. K. CHAN (in Cantonese):—I am really glad these two gentlemen are also members of the Recreation Select Committee. Since we do not have a heavy agenda tomorrow morning, perhaps we can have an initial discussion tomorrow morning under any other business.
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