1958 — Page 53

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neighbourhood of the proposed dustboat station at Whitfield, no residential development will take place and the risk of nuisance is negligible, bearing in mind that Whitfield is at the end of a road on the waterfront and that the whole Urban Services Department compound round the dustboat station will be enclosed; likewise, the actual dustboat station itself will also be enclosed. It is the most convenient point for the concentration of the Urban Services Department activities in Hong Kong, e.g., covered garage, disinfecting station, quarters. will eventually be the only dustboat station in Hong Kong and, if sited in an outlying district, would increase the turn-round time for dumping by refuse collecting lorries.

MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN :- Mr. Chairman, since you have initiated the procedure of reading out answers to questions of Members instead of laying them on the table before the meeting, I think I can only reciprocate by reading out my question to you :-

"In order to make the Kowloon Star Ferry more attractive to residents and tourists alike, would the Chairman ascertain from the Public Works Department whether or not a fountain could be installed somewhere in the middle of the Kowloon Star Ferry Concourse now under construction?"

THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:-

"I shall be happy to consult the Director of Public Works on the feasibility of a fountain. The Parks, Playgrounds and Urban Amenities Select Committee will be consulted on the question of funds—probably in the region of $50,000 to $60,000—but it is doubtful whether such a large sum can be made available this year."

MR. A. DE O. SALES :- May I put a supplementary question?

CHAIRMAN :- I am afraid not.

MR. SALES :- I beg your pardon, sir, under which Standing Order?

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CHAIRMAN :- The question has not been asked by you, Mr. Sales.

MR. SALES :- I am sorry, Mr. Chairman. Since my tenure of office in the Urban Council supplementary questions put by other Members have been accepted by your predecessors. Are you abiding by your decision?

CHAIRMAN :- You can ask the question if you wish.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN :- Would it make any difference if Mr. Sales has my permission to ask a supplementary question?

MR. SALES :- I knew he would come to my rescue! Chairman, would it not be true to say that after the Coronation festivities when the fountain was put in the Concourse in Kowloon an assurance was given by the Department concerned that when replanning was to be done the fountain would in effect be a permanent feature? Have you any information to that effect?

CHAIRMAN :- I have no information, Mr. Sales. I was not here at the time of the Coronation festivities and I know nothing about any such assurance.

MR. SALES :- May I hope, Mr. Chairman, that you will----

CHAIRMAN :- Are you asking a question or expressing a hope?

MR. SALES :- It is put in question form.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN :- May I ask a supplementary question? In answer to the question raised by Mr. Sales, I would be happy if you would pass on to the Department concerned my hope that should it be possible to install that fountain the question of funds should be considered as a secondary one and that the fountain should be put in if at all possible.

CHAIRMAN :- Your words will be passed for the information of the Select Committee and to the Director of Public Works.

DR. R. H. S. LEE asked the following questions :-

"(a) Will the Chairman make a statement as to the public response to the experiment of the new pilot nightsoil removal scheme which has been in operation in the Central District for several months?

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