HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
the damage situation, I just told Mr. HUNG that I did not have information in hand, but I could ask the Department to supply information after the meeting.
As for his asking assistance for a reply to his original version of the question, in fact, we can find information about the Regional Council in its monthly bulletin. Having read over the original version of Mr. HUNG's question, I find that I have not answered one other of his questions. He wants to know of the total number of swimmers using heated pools and leisure pools of the Council in Winter. I just made a rough count and I can tell him that the daily average attendance should be around 5000. With 4 pools opened including Morrison Hill, Hammer Hill, Lai Chi Kok Park and Kowloon Park, our average daily attendance stands at around 5000.
The HON. LI WAH-MING (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I have been following the work progress of the Jordan Valley Pool for several years, so I am conversant with the issues there. I want to ask Mr. Wong why, with more than 5 months of closure from the last swimming season to the beginning of this season, there are still 5 uncompleted facilities at the Jordan Valley Pool. I think some of the facilities are not simply landscaping. For example, the steps in the toilet for the disabled have not been demolished. It is not complicated work, so why are disabled persons still prevented from using this Pool? I am very concerned about this. Why were we unable to make use of the five months of closure to finish up uncompleted work? That is my question.
MR. RONNIE WONG Man-chiu (in Cantonese):—When I looked at the reply, I too felt that 5 months was quite a long time and it was not acceptable. I will take Mr. Li's question back to the Committee for it to raise it with the Department. The question will also be handed over to the Working Group headed by Ms Christina Ting for follow up.
CHAIRMAN (in Cantonese):—Members have given valuable points. If direct discussion with the Department is desired, I suggest we follow up at the Committee level. This reply was prepared some time ago.
MR. CHOW KWOK-LEUNG (in Cantonese):—I have three questions. In paragraph 7 of the reply document, wear and tear and depreciation were grouped as one of the reasons for damage of pool facilities. The pools were opened only a few months ago, why is the speed of wear and tear and depreciation so fast? Does it have to do with the choice of material? Has the Committee gone into this? That is my first question.
The second question also concerns paragraph 7 of the reply document in that the Architectural Services Department and the architect concerned would be notified to carry out emergency repair. I want to know how much time is needed for emergency repair. We have seen how slowly the Architectural Services Department...
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