HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
401
My speech today will centre on capital works and project planning, environmental protection and greening policy and Total Quality Management.
1. Capital Works 1. Project Procedures
Following the Chairman's report in which he mentioned speeding up the UC capital works and improving project management, the Working Group on Capital Works Projects Procedures headed by me has reviewed these issues a number of times and has put in place a lot of improvement measures. These measures are covered in my paper and, to save time, I will not go through them one by one. But I have to point out that implementation of the above measures is still unsatisfactory. UC's major project, i.e. the piling works of Hong Kong Film Archive in Sai Wan Ho is an example. It has been deferred for as long as four months. Does the Chairman know that this is a waste of precious time? Progress of the works depends very much on the monitoring by the Architectural Services Department. I think the authorities concerned should make greater efforts in this respect in order to live up to the expectation of the public.
2. Building a Stadium Fit for International Events
Earlier the Council has passed a motion, calling on the Government to build another large-scale stadium in Kowloon. I would like to give my views on this. On sports development, Hong Kong has had remarkable achievements in international events in recent years. As a metropolis, Hong Kong should seize every opportunity to host more international events so that the standard of Hong Kong's athletes can be raised to international level. The design of the UC venues should move towards this direction. Hence, when another large-scale stadium is planned, it should have a seating capacity of over 40,000, and with tracks and fields and other facilities built to international standards. It is intended to be an arena for staging soccer and large-scale international spectator events and concerts. I hope this could be realized in the future.
3. Building Swimming Pools Fit for International Events
At present, the only UC swimming pool where international events can be held is the Kowloon Park Swimming Pool. Compared with the ever-rising international standards, the swimming pool is apparently out-dated. It lacks, for instance, such facilities as a pool-side service room, an athletes' rest room and an automatic mechanical system which can convert a 100m standard pool into a 50m pool with hydraulic equipment. I hope the Department would provide these facilities in the redevelopment of the Victoria Park Swimming Pool and keep this on record.
4. Setting aside Land for Greenery in Redeveloping Old Districts
Old districts are densely populated. In the course of redevelopment, old buildings are demolished and very often replaced by taller and bigger ones, without enough land being set aside for greenery. Learning from the past experience of redeveloping old districts in the urban area, the Planning
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