Page 113 of 115
210
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
In the years immediately following the war, it was natural that emphasis should have been given to street lighting from the point of view of security. Then as the years went by other aspects were considered: better lit streets to cut down the rate of traffic accidents, the requirements of the Urban Services Department for its conservancy and scavenging operations, the lighting for parks and playgrounds, and so on.
By and large I would say that our main streets in the urban areas are well lit. However, there are still a number of streets on both sides of the Colony in the urban areas which have no lights at all, such as Tung Chou Street in Tai Kok Tsui. There are also many other streets where the residents concerned feel that the lighting is inadequate. I have heard complaints, for instance, that the lighting facilities are poor at the end of Battery Street (New) in Yaumati, and also at the Kowloon Bus Terminus near Sung Wong Terrace in To Kwa Wan. I think the time has come for more consideration to be given to the provision of street lighting on amenity grounds, without of course prejudicing the requirements of the Commissioner of Police from the point of view of security, and the urgent requirements of other departments.
Over the last few years Government received requests for the installation of street lighting facilities from quite a number of associations and individuals. These requests were seldom complied with. A case in point is the request of the Chai Wan Kaifong Association which for at least two years had been asking for the provision of street lamps in Chai Wan, and it was not until after representations had repeatedly been made by members of this Council that Government finally agreed last month to provide street lighting there.
I must admit that Government did not always turn an entirely deaf ear to every request that came directly from the public. I would like to mention the story of a group of public spirited citizens in Kennedy Town who in 1949 decided that rather than wait until the Public Works Department should instal facilities, that they themselves would go ahead and make their own arrangements, which they actually did. Then in 1950, when the Kennedy Town Kaifong was formed, this Kaifong again took the matter up with Government, and the very next year street lamps in the particular area concerned were installed. I can only assume that the alacrity on the part of the authorities to co-operate was that they might have been worried about what would happen if they had allowed the temporary and make-shift facilities provided by these zealous citizens to remain too much longer. The steps that these citizens took to improve the street lighting facilities in their neighbourhood, Mr. Chairman, may be called "citizenship in action", I see my honourable friend the Director of Public Works with bowed head looking a bit worried, but I would hasten to assure him that I have no intention of recommending this method to any group of residents for the purpose of inspiring quick action on the part of Government.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
211
Then again it would not be too far wrong to say Government often listens more attentively to requests from an active and responsible, and even militant body. I have in mind the Kowloon Residents' Association, and I am not saying this just because my friend Mr. Sales happens to be an ex-President of the K.R.A. This Association has performed excellent work in ensuring that the Kowloon Tong and some other areas in Kowloon are sufficiently well lit.
It will be recalled, Mr. Chairman, that at a recent meeting of the Committee of the Whole it was agreed that requests from the public for street lighting on amenity grounds might well be channelled through the Parks, Playgrounds and Urban Amenities Select Committee. In my Motion I have stated that Council should consider a survey of street lighting facilities, if necessary with the co-operation of the Kaifongs and other interested organizations. Perhaps the word "survey"-which I am using for want of a better term-has a connotation a little beyond the actual intent and I would like to elaborate on this a little further.
I fully appreciate the fact that existing commitments of the Urban Services Department are such that it would not permit them to undertake the physical work of a survey. What I would propose is that the Urban Council should invite the Kaifongs and other civic bodies, such as the Kowloon Residents' Association, to study and investigate street lighting requirements in their respective districts and to send in their suggestions to Council. This should be purely a voluntary effort, and no association should feel obligated to do anything about it if it does not wish to do so. After receipt of the various suggestions and requests then Council-or rather the Select Committee concerned-should be responsible for collating and analyzing the material received.
Page 115 of 115
Page 113 of 11
Page 113 of 11
of 115
Page 113 of 115
210
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
In the years immediately following the war, it was natural that emphasis should have been given to street lighting from the point of view of security. Then as the years went by other aspects were considered: better lit streets to cut down the rate of traffic accidents, the requirements of the Urban Services Department for its conservancy and scavenging operations, the lighting for parks and playgrounds, and so on.
By and large I would say that our main streets in the urban areas are well lit. However, there are still a number of streets on both sides of the Colony in the urban areas which have no lights at all, such as Tung Chou Street in Tai Kok Tsui. There are also many other streets where the residents concerned feel that the lighting is inadequate. I have heard complaints, for instance, that the lighting facilities are poor at the end of Battery Street (New) in Yaumati, and also at the Kowloon Bus Terminus near Sung Wong Terrace in To Kwa Wan. I think the time has come for more consideration to be given to the provision of street lighting on amenity grounds, without of course prejudicing the requirements of the Commissioner of Police from the point of view of security, and the urgent requirements of other departments.
Over the last few years Government received requests for the installation of street lighting facilities from quite a number of associations and individuals. These requests were seldom complied with. A case in point is the request of the Chai Wan Kaifong Association which for at least two years had been asking for the provision of street lamps in Chai Wan, and it was not until after representations had repeatedly been made by members of this Council that Government finally agreed last month to provide street lighting there.
I must admit that Government did not always turn an entirely deaf ear to every request that came directly from the public. I would like to mention the story of a group of public spirited citizens in Kennedy Town who in 1949 decided that rather than wait until the Public Works Department should instal facilities, that they themselves would go ahead and make their own arrangements, which they actually did. Then in 1950, when the Kennedy Town Kaifong was formed, this Kaifong again took the matter up with Government, and the very next year street lamps in the particular area concerned were installed. I can only assume that the alacrity on the part of the authorities
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
211
to co-operate was that they might have been worried about what would happen if they had allowed the temporary and make-shift facilities provided by these zealous citizens to remain too much longer. The steps that these citizens took to improve the street lighting facilities in their neighbourhood, Mr. Chairman, may be called "citizenship in action", I see my honourable friend the Director of Public Works with bowed head looking a bit worried, but I would hasten to assure him that I have no intention of recommending this method to any group of residents for the purpose of inspiring quick action on the part of Government.
that
Then again it would not be too far wrong to say Government often listens more attentively to requests from an active and responsible, and even militant body. I have in mind the Kowloon Residents' Association, and I am not saying this just because my friend Mr. Sales happens to be an ex-President of the K.R.A. This Association has performed excellent work in ensuring that the Kowloon Tong and some other areas in Kowloon are sufficiently well lit.
It will be recalled, Mr. Chairman, that at a recent meeting of the Committee of the Whole it was agreed that requests from the public for street lighting on amenity grounds might well be channelled through the Parks, Playgrounds and Urban Amenities Select Committee. In my Motion I have stated that Council should consider a survey of street lighting facilities, if necessary with the co-operation of the Kaifongs and other interested organizations. Perhaps the word "survey"-which I am using for want of a better term-has a connotation a little beyond the actual intent and I would like to elaborate on this a little further.
I fully appreciate the fact that existing commitments of the Urban Services Department are such that it would not permit them to undertake the physical work of a survey. What I would propose is that the Urban Council should invite the Kaifongs and other civic bodies, such as the Kowloon Residents' Associa- tion, to study and investigate street lighting requirements in their respective districts and to send in their suggestions to Council. This should be purely a voluntary effort, and no association should feel obligated to do anything about it if it does not wish to do so. After receipt of the various suggestions and requests then Council-or rather the Select Committee concerned-should be responsible for collating and analyzing the material received.
Į
Page 113 of 11
Page 113 of 11
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.