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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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Museum, there are only two cubicles in the female public toilet while the number of cubicles in the female staff toilet is more than that. Mr. Chairman, I hope the Working Group on Public Toilets would be concerned about it as it is said that there are not too many female staff working in the Space Museum, but more toilet cubicles are provided for them than for the public. Mr. Chairman, while you are concerned about the toilet culture, I hope you will look into this problem as well.
Chairman (in Cantonese): Thank you. The designs for the Space Museum and the Science Museum are just the opposite to the ones proposed by the Working Group. The respective designs are not scientific and so they have to be rectified. The Working Group will take note of such problems in future.
MR. LAM MAN-FAI (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, the Report just now mentioned that the ratio of 6:4 for a public venue may not be a proper arrangement. In future, the Museum of History will certainly attract a large number of visitors including the general public as well as tourists. So, can the toilet ratio of the Museum of History be 7:3?
CHAIRMAN (in Cantonese): In my opinion, provision of toilets in museum should not be based on any ratios, be it 7:3 or 6:4. For 6:4, it means 40% are male toilets and 60% are female toilets. If it is 3:7, it means 30% are male toilets and 70% are female toilets. For museums, there are no fixed closing time. In a concert, there will be intermissions, and (audiences) have to be re-seated after a 15-minute break. And at tourist sightseeing areas, visitors on group tours may only be allowed to stay for 30 or 45 minutes before moving onto another scenic spot. But in museums, time is not that rigid and pressing, and people won't rush to toilets all at one time. Hence, the ratio of 4:6 should be appropriate. Nevertheless, the waiting area inside should be more spacious. Considerations should be given to the sudden increase of users, such as a large number of students on group visits, rather than to the visitors' pressing need to finish using the toilets within a scheduled short period of time.
Mr. Wu Chi-Wai (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, it was mentioned just now that there is no minimum requirements for the design of public toilets. I would like to follow up this point. From the papers we received, we learn that there will be many public toilets under the respective designs. However, I never come to know of the number of cubicles provided and the estimated flow of visitors they can cope with. In this connection, would you, Mr. Chairman, please refer our request to the Department or the Working Group on Public Toilets to work out the minimum requirements for public toilets in various types of venues, such as the estimated flow of visitors that the toilet facilities should be able to cope with, so that the Councillors can use these as guidelines in deciding the designs of public toilets.
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