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estates should be given some form of subsidy by the Education Department. It is my very strong belief that in addition to universal primary education by 1960/61, we should aim at universal secondary education within the next seven to ten years.
Dr. Bell has made reference to the highway authority and that this Council should be represented in that authority. I learn from the grape vine that it is being contemplated to form a highway authority and this Council should definitely be represented by much more than one representative.
I would support your motion, Mr. Chairman, but with one major reservation, that there is not and there ought to be more long term planning in the work of this Council. With few exceptions, it is the general tendency of this Council to plan its activities on a year to year basis. It is time that we start programming our projects at least five years ahead. Date-lines should be established for the more important projects and the programme should be reviewed annually.
You have, Mr. Chairman, summarized the Council's aims for the year 1959/60. May I give what I believe should be the Council's main projects for the next five years?
Health Inspectorate: It has been the professed aim of Council for many years to have one District Health Inspector for every 1,200 tenement floors. Now that our recruiting and training system has been reorganized, would it not be reasonable to expect that by 1963 we will have enough trained Inspectors to accomplish this aim?
Health Education: By 1964/65 there should be:-
(a) No more indiscriminate spitting anywhere in Hong Kong. I am a born optimist by nature, Mr. Chairman, but I think we must make allowance for the strong habits of the public, and I am giving time for a change in their habits.
(b) Clean streets everywhere.
(c) An active Health Education Council in which the community would be broadly represented for the purpose of supporting the work initiated by the Urban Council and to publish appropriate booklets on health education for youth group leaders, Kaifong members, students, and others.
Food Inspection: The Food Inspection Unit should increase its activities so that all restaurants and cafes should have cleaner floors, kitchens and toilets by the end of 1959. Also, flies, cockroaches and rats should be conspicuous by their absence.
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35
Two new abattoirs: After ten years of planning, it is not unreasonable to expect that the two new abattoirs would be completed by 1963. Again, I am trying to be optimistic, Mr. Chairman, but with a little forward planning there is no reason why we should not aim at 1963 for the completion of these two abattoirs.
Parks and Playgrounds: The Public Works Department should supply Council with a list of sites which could be developed as Parks and Playgrounds over the next five years. If this cannot be provided, we can only assume that the P.W.D. ought to be more "forward-looking” in its approach to development. I have been advocating for several years the carrying out of a diagnostic survey in Hong Kong and I strongly urge Government to recruit a diagnostic team to provide us with the facts and figures which are so necessary for intelligent and sound community planning.
Beaches and Swimming Pools: The Hong Kong Tourist Association has recently supplied me with a list of twenty three suggestions concerning beach amenities. I have passed on this list to the Chairman, and I would request that these suggestions be considered by the Urban Amenities Select Committee as soon as possible. I might even go so far as to suggest to them to consider making representations to the New Territories District Commissioner to ask him if he would be willing to allow this Council to take over the beaches in the New Territories. I believe that Council can do a much better job in providing amenities in these beaches within the New Territories District Administration. It is not their fault, but they have many other problems to contend with. Hong Kong has some of the finest beaches in the world, but the amenities provided still leave much to be desired, and some really serious efforts ought to be made by this Council to improve our beach amenities during the next two years. I was with some friends visiting the Colony at Shek O last Sunday and the remark was made to me that Shek O has the possibilities of an international beach resort, but not until the amenities are greatly improved. I would ask, Mr. Chairman, that you put forward this suggestion for consideration by the relevant select committee for what it is worth.
Libraries: Apart from the City Hall Library, I believe it is necessary for this Council to plan with the Kaifong Associations and other interested bodies in establishing small libraries in each district to cater for the poorer classes of the population, and in particular for the children. There has been an outcry in recent weeks—and quite justly so against unwholesome literature being offered to the public and especially to youngsters. A practical measure to offset this would be the establishing of these district libraries.
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estates should be given some form of subsidy by the Education Depart- ment. It is my very strong belief that in addition to universal primary education by 1960/61, we should aim at universal secondary education within the next seven to ten years.
Dr. Bell has made reference to the highway authority and that this Council should by represented in that authority. I learn from the grape vine that it is being contemplated to form a highway authority and this Council should definitely be represented by much more than one representative.
I would support your motion, Mr. Chairman, but with one major reservation, that there is not and there ought to be more long term planning in the work of this Council. With few exceptions, it is the general tendency of this Council to plan its activities on a year to year basis. It is time that we start programming our projects at least five years ahead. Date-lines should be established for the more important projects and the programme should be reviewed annually.
You have, Mr. Chairman, summarized the Council's aims for the year 1959/60. May I give what I believe should be the Council's main projects for the next five years?
Health Inspectorate: It has been the professed aim of Council for many years to have one District Health Inspector for every 1,200 tenement floors. Now that our recruiting and training system has been reorganized, would it not be reasonable to expect that by 1963 we will have enough trained Inspectors to accomplish this aim?
Health Education: By 1964/65 there should be:-
(a) No more indiscriminate spitting anywhere in Hong Kong. I am a born optimist by nature, Mr. Chairman, but I think we must make allowance for the strong habits of the public, and I am giving time for a change in their habits.
(b) Clean streets everywhere.
(c) An active Health Education Council in which the community would be broadly represented for the purpose of supporting the work initiated by the Urban Council and to publish appropriate booklets on health education for youth group leaders, Kaifong members, students, and others.
Food Inspection: The Food Inspection Unit should increase its activities so that all restaurants and cafes should have cleaner floors, kitchens and toilets by the end of 1959. Also, flies, cockroaches and rats should be conspicuous by their absence.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
35
Two new abattoirs: After ten years of planning, it is not un- reasonable to expect that the two new abattoirs would be completed by 1963. Again, I am trying to be optimistic, Mr. Chairman, but with a little forward planning there is no reason why we should not aim at 1963 for the completion of these two abattoirs.
Parks and Playgrounds: The Public Works Department should supply Council with a list of sites which could be developed as Parks and Playgrounds over the next five years. If this cannot be provided, we can only assume that the P.W.D. ought to be more "forward-looking” in its approach to development. I have been advocating for several years the carrying out of a diagnostic survey in Hong Kong and I strongly urge Government to recruit a diagnostic team to provide us with the facts and figures which are so necessary for intelligent and sound community planning.
Beaches and Swimming Pools: The Hong Kong Tourist Associa- tion has recently supplied me with a list of twenty three suggestions concerning beach amenities. I have passed on this list to the Chairman, and I would request that these suggestions be considered by the Urban Amenities Select Committee as soon as possible. I might even go so far as to suggest to them to consider making representations to the New Territories District Commissioner to ask him if he would be willing to allow this Council to take over the beaches in the New Territories. I believe that Council can do a much better job in providing amenities in these beaches within the New Territories District Administration. It is not their fault, but they have many other problems to contend with. Hong Kong has some of the finest beaches in the world, but the amenities provided still leave much to be desired, and some really serious efforts ought to be made by this Council to improve our beach amenities during the next two years. I was with some friends visiting the Colony at Shek O last Sunday and the remark was made to me that Shek O has the possibilities of an international beach resort, but not until the amenities are greatly improved. I would ask, Mr. Chairman, that you put forward this suggestion for consideration by the relevant select committee for what it is worth.
Libraries: Apart from the City Hall Library, I believe it is necessary for this Council to plan with the Kaifong Associations and other interested bodies in establishing small libraries in each district to cater for the poorer classes of the population, and in particular for the children. There has been an outcry in recent weeks-and quite justly so against unwholesome literature being offered to the public and especially to youngsters. A practical measure to offset this would be the establishing of these district libraries.
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