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Page 350 of 606

Page 350 of 606

338

PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL

income is expected to reduce and the shortfall in revenue is estimated to be $0.4 billion. We will try to live within our means and set priorities on the provision of facilities and services.

(c) Construction of the Hong Kong Museum of History and St. Stephen's Beach Water Sports Centre has been completed. As for the Hong Kong Central Library, construction of the 10th storey is underway and the project is scheduled for completion in November 1999. Projects under active construction include the Hong Kong Central Library, the Film Archive and Leisure Centre on Sai Wan Ho Reclamation, the Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence and the redevelopment of Sai Ying Pun Market, etc.

(d) This Council also gave its support to the Healthy Living Campaign which aims at promoting cooperation of Government departments with the two Municipal Councils so as to better address the health issues in Hong Kong. In this connection, the Urban Services Department has made appreciable efforts to make Hong Kong a cleaner and healthier place to live.

Let me highlight some other achievements of the Council in the past year.

Capital Works Projects

On capital works projects, there are altogether 130 projects under various stages of planning and construction. In 1998, about $1.14 billion was spent on capital works. As construction for planned projects on blue prints have been started or completed, the cash-flow for capital works in 1998 was 40% more than 1997. Besides the Hong Kong Museum of History and St. Stephen's Beach Water Sports Centre, other major projects completed include UC Ap Lei Chau Complex, Repulse Bay Beach Service Building, etc. Facilities which will be commissioned for use this year include the Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence, Lai Chi Kok Park Stage III, UC Chai Wan Complex, Redevelopment of Sai Ying Pun Market, Ho Man Tin Recreation Ground, UC Sam Ka Tsuen Complex and Leisure Centre etc. We have also endorsed the redevelopment of Victoria Park and the construction projects of the Hammer Hill Road District Park and the Stanley Main Beach Water Sports Centre. Works will commence as soon as the Government departments concerned have finished their necessary preparations.

Public Health

The Council has remained committed to promoting good hygiene. Last year, the Council acted swiftly in response to issues of food-related diseases and contamination widely covered by the media, namely the H5N1 virulent bird flu, cholera, the ciguatera fish poisoning, and the clenbuterol in pig lungs, etc. A series of measures have been taken to eliminate the health hazards posed to the public. Since mid-October 1998, the Council launched a special community

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