1958 — Page 45

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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

MR. P. D. Au asked the following question :---

"Would the Chairman inform this Council when the Dust Boat Station on Gloucester Road will be re- moved so that the emptying of garbage, which con- stitutes a nuisance to the residents at Wanchai, could be avoided ?"

THE CHAIRMAN tabled the following written reply:-

"The construction of an enclosed dustboat station adjoin- ing the departmental depot at Whitfield is included in the current Public Works Programme under the top priority for works not yet commenced. When this new dustboat station is built, the stations at Gloucester Road and French Street will be closed. I cannot yet give a date by which this will happen. It is hoped that an architect will shortly be appointed for this scheme."

MR. P. D. Au asked the following question :—

"Would the Chairman inform this Council when the Grand Bandstand in the Victoria Park will be built?"

THE CHAIRMAN tabled the following written reply :—

"The Council has recommended the construction of an orchestral shell in Victoria Park which will enable audiences of several thousand to enjoy band con- certs, orchestral concerts and other entertainments. This scheme is included in the current Public Works Programme in the top category for works not yet started. Preliminary examination of constructional problems has been done and a paper will shortly be distributed to Council for consideration. I cannot yet say when this scheme will be completed."

MOTIONS.

MR. A. DE O. SALES moved :-

"That this Council develop at public expense, either all at once or in stages, the entire area set aside at Cape Collinson for the new permanent cemetery and such other areas as may be proposed for the same purpose-

He said:

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

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And further that, when this has been done, this Council shall

(a) allocate entirely separate parts to be the specific respective responsibilities of the various religious and other groups in order that they may follow their own rites and practices;

(b) fix a fair and equitable charge for each burial plot based on the recoverable unit cost of development in addition to maintenance and other pertinent expenses; and

(c) arrange that when this principle has been accepted, the details be worked out by the appropriate Select Committee."

At the Annual Debate last month both Dr. Lee and I independently expressed our concern over the Council's policy on Cemeteries and the disparity in burial costs. Even before then, other members had done so in Select Committee meetings just as we did too. In point of fact, I doubt that any member of the appropriate Select Committee can truly say that he had not heard of complaints of various forms. Consequently, I urged a review of policy and a change in practice.

I think I cannot do better than to recall my remarks on that occasion as reproduced on pages 51/52 of the Official Record of Proceedings. They gave rise to the terms of today's motion, which has, I am assured, the blessing of all Unofficial Members.

This Council can hardly turn its back on the inequity of the present policy which appears to protect one very small group and to leave some other sections of the population almost to fend for themselves. Neither can this Council continue to ignore the very high costs of burial which are the rule rather than the excep- tion for a good part of the community that is in the same or in a lower economic class as that which is now favoured at public expense.

Evidently, if out of the public coffers the cost of developing one or more sections of the new cemetery at Cape Collinson is met, it stands to reason that all the other sections of the same cemetery which are set aside for the burial of other groups of the

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