1959 — Page 16

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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

devoid of modern sanitation, but are also in danger of falling down. As it is difficult, if not impossible, for them to move to other premises which can conform to the regulations of the Education Department, I urge Government to build flatted schools in different areas on the same principle as flatted factories to assist private schools in need of assistance. Like flatted factories they should be rented out on a unit basis depending on the size of the school.

To keep our streets cleaner, especially secondary streets, our aim should be to wash them once a week. Since street cleansing vehicles do not depend upon mains supply but wells and nullah water for washing, this Council should press Government for more street cleansing vehicles which are the limiting factors in our present policy of washing the streets only once a fortnight.

With the onset of the swimming season, it is timely to remind Government that this Council is the most appropriate authority to operate the Colony's beaches. As swimming is the most popular sport in the summer all the beaches in the New Territories should be placed under the control of this Council because it has the most experience and the best staff to run them. It is a pity that so many promising beaches are not developed to its fullest extent for the enjoyment of the public.

With these comments, Mr. Chairman, I have much pleasure in supporting the Motion now before us. (Applause).

MR. LI YIU BOR:-I rise to support the Statement of Progress and Policy tabled for discussion this afternoon. In view of the fact that there will be a large number of speeches at this Meeting, I will endeavour to be as brief as possible.

The year under review is a period of steady progress in the work of the Council. Whatever has been achieved has been achieved by the combined effort of all members led by an indefatiguable Chairman and assisted by the hard-working staff of the Urban Services Depart- ment. It is gratifying to note that all Members of this Council have in the past year worked together as a team, and I have every hope that such co-operation will persist in the public interest.

With your permission, Sir, I should like to refer to two or three aspects of this Council's responsibilities outlined in your Statement. Regarding urban amenities, I have noted with great satisfaction that sixteen projects including playgrounds and rest gardens were com- pleted during the year, and that nineteen similar projects are scheduled for development in the coming year. The Argyle Street Playground which was recently completed is now a great boon to children as well as adults in the Kowloon City area. One has only to tour the urban

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area to see the popularity of our small children's playgrounds, rest gardens and roadside plots and also boulevards, which are being developed according to a rather ambitious programme.

I suggest, Sir, that in the future allocation of sites for the develop- ment of parks and playgrounds this Council should be fully consulted by the Town Planning Committee or Board, of which the Honourable Director of Public Works is the Chairman and you, Sir, are an esteemed Member. I firmly believe that such consultation will be in the public interest as it will lead to the most economic and best use of land available for development.

We in Hong Kong are very proud of the fact that the Colony has become a very popular tourist centre in this part of the world, but I must say that our beaches are hardly tourist attractions. Although it is appreciated that sustained effort is being made by this Council to keep the beaches clean and safe for bathers, the amenities offered by them fall far short of expectations. I take this opportunity to invite the relevant Select Committee to give this matter urgent and active consideration in the near future.

I also wish to add that the difficult task of resettlement is proceed- ing efficiently, and we hope that by 1961 we will have resettled a total of about half a million squatters. The Council's policy of endeavour- ing to integrate settlers into the general community is a sound one which should be pursued with vigour in the coming year.

With these brief comments, Mr. Chairman, I have pleasure to support your Statement. (Applause).

MR. FUNG PING FAN:-Mr. Chairman, due to the number of speakers at this Annual Conventional Debate, it is necessary for us to be brief, and I shall therefore just touch upon a few subjects only. For this reason, the Appointed Members have agreed to divide the subject-matters among themselves to avoid overlapping as much as it is possible to do, while covering the entire range of our many responsi- bilities and activities.

City Hall: This Council is entrusted with the control and manage- ment of the City Hall when built, and a Select Committee of the Council has been formed to look after the project. The Select Committee is responsible for planning the future running of the building.

Apart from the few private libraries in the Colony, we do not boast a public library commensurate with the importance of Hong Kong as a Beacon of Learning in this far-flung outpost of the Common- wealth.