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bus company to supply more buses on the roads on week-ends and holidays to cope with the crowds who patronize these beaches. In this connexion I would mention as an example the 11 mile beach on Castle Peak Road. The road facing this beach requires straightening and widening to provide more car parks and better access, all remaining stones exposed at low tide should be removed, and a little landscaping to improve the appearance of the neighbourhood would be an advantage. The land approach to Silver Mine Bay should be improved, and the village toll bridge rights bought out. In view of the great popularity of swimming in the summer months, it is important to explore the question of having public land and sea transport provided to other beautiful beaches on the south side of Lantao to which at present the public have little or no access.
Parking is becoming an increasingly serious problem on both sides of the harbour. The answer is that we need more car parks in both the Central District and Tsim Sha Tsui. For the relief of parking in the Central District, why not follow the example of other major cities and convert the open spaces of Statue Square, the Cenotaph, and the Hong Kong Cricket Club into underground car parks, and yet retain their present above the ground features? I am told by reliable people that such a project is perfectly feasible, and should not cost much more than above ground multi-storey garages. It would certainly have the merit of proximity to the car owner's place of work. Although the idea is not new, it is a thought well worth pursuing because suitable sites in the Central District are just not available.
One more point Mr. Chairman. I am sure you are just as keen as I am that there should be an adequate professional staff for the new City Hall. I hope Government will not delay too long in giving covering approval to the relevant Select Committee's recommendation for the necessary Library Staff. Unless this is forthcoming it is possible that the Library might not be ready to serve the Public when the City Hall is open.
I know the present grant of $300,000 for the purchase of books is only a token one. But I would ask the appropriate Authorities to bear in mind that when future provision for this purpose is considered I request that they should follow the United Kingdom practice of determining the Library vote by the size of the community, and I hope our Library vote next year would not be less generous than U.K. Standards. I am firmly of the belief that we should pay adequate regard to the intellectual diet of our younger generation.
With these comments, Mr. Chairman, I have much pleasure in accepting the Statement of Progress and Policy now before Council.
MR. C. Y. KWAN:- Mr. Chairman, I rise to support your motion. In doing so I would like to say a few words.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
13
I am pleased to note from the Statement of Progress and Policy that the Public Health and Urban Services Bill will shortly be ready for publication. After years of preparation the Bill was finally approved by this Council on the 5th August, 1958-exactly two years ago and was in the same month sent by the Council to Government for its consideration. It is a matter of regret that in spite of the long lapse of time, the Bill has not as yet become law. It cannot be over-emphasized that the delay in having the proposed new legislation passed is handicapping this Council in its efforts to improve public health, because, as I have said in this Council before, the existing law is antiquated and quite inadequate to cope with the present day standard requirements for public health. There is a good number of unlicensed restaurants which are in a shocking condition, so far as hygiene is concerned, but under the present law the Council is powerless to deal with them decisively. The proposed new legislation will give the Council power to deal effectively with such an undesirable situation. In April last year I addressed this Council on the same subject, and I urged that expeditious action be taken to have the law passed. My appeal, however, has been in vain. In the interest of public health I like to take this opportunity of urging once more that action be taken forthwith to have the new legislation enacted without any further delay.
On the subject of the abattoirs, Sir, I am sorry to note that they are still in the planning stage only, although the project for one of them was decided upon many years ago. In his speech before this Council in April, 1958 my friend, Mr. Hilton CHEONG-LEEN, said this: "We have spoken about a new abattoir for five years and now that we have laid our plans for two abattoirs, let us not wait another five years". At the present rate of progress I am afraid by the end of the five years mentioned by Mr. CHEONG-LEEN, we may yet be without our new abattoirs! Mr. Chairman, might not the work be done in greater speed than this? It is a matter of urgency that we should not procrastinate any further in having the new abattoirs built and completed, in view of the gross inadequacy and unhygienic conditions of our present slaughter house. I suggest that arrangement be made as soon as possible with the Public Works Department to have the building of the new abattoirs and the necessary staff quarters placed in the top priority list, so that they may be built as soon as their plans are finalized. I do hope that while we are waiting for the finalization of the plans for the abattoirs, the planning of the staff quarters is going ahead, so that they will be ready for occupation as soon as the new abattoirs are built. Every step must now be taken to avoid any delay in the full use of the new abattoirs for lack of accommodation to house the necessary operating staff.
Sir, on the subject of corruption, which is a burning question of the day, I welcome Government's decision to strengthen the existing special committee to tackle the problem. There has been widespread
Page 14 of 118
Page 14 of 118
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bus company to supply more buses on the roads on week-ends and holidays to cope with the crowds who patronize these beaches. In this connexion I would mention as an example the 11 mile beach on Castle Peak Road. The road facing this beach requires straightening and widening to provide more car parks and better access, all remaining stones exposed at low tide should be removed, and a little landscaping to improve the appearance of the neighbourhood would be an advantage. The land approach to Silver Mine Bay should be improved, and the village toll bridge rights bought out. In view of the great popularity of swimming in the summer months, it is important to explore the question of having public land and sea transport provided to other beautiful beaches on the south side of Lantao to which at present the public have little or no access.
Parking is becoming an increasingly serious problems on both sides of the harbour. The answer is that we need more car parks in both the Central District and Tsim Sha Tsui. For the relief of parking in the Central District, why not follow the example of other major cities and convert the open spaces of Statue Square, the Cenotaph, and the Hong Kong Cricket Club into underground car parks, and yet retain their present above the ground features? I am told by reliable people that such a project is perfectly feasible, and should not cost much more than above ground multi-storey garages. It would certainly have the merit of proximity to the car owner's place of work. Although the idea is not new, it is a thought well worth pursuing because suitable sites in the Central District are just not available.
One more point Mr. Chairman. I am sure you are just as keen as I am that there should be an adequate professional staff for the new City Hall. I hope Government will not delay too long in giving covering approval to the relevant Select Committee's recommendation for the necessary Library Staff. Unless this is forthcoming it is possible that the Library might not be ready to serve the Public when the City Hall is open.
I know the present grant of $300,000 for the purchase of books is only a token one. But I would ask the appropriate Authorities to bear in mind that when future provision for this purpose is considered I request that they should follow the United Kingdom practice of determining the Library vote by the size of the community, and I hope our Library vote next year would not be less generous than U.K. Standards. I am firmly of the belief that we should pay adequate regard to the intellectual diet of our younger generation.
With these comments, Mr. Chairman, I have much pleasure in accepting the Statement of Progress and Policy now before Council.
MR. C. Y. KWAN:-Mr. Chairman, I rise to support your motion. In doing so I would like to say a few words.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
13
I am pleased to note from the Statement of Progress and Policy that the Public Health and Urban Services Bill will shortly be ready for publication. After years of preparation the Bill was finally approved by this Council on the 5th August, 1958-exactly two years ago and was in the same month sent by the Council to Government for its consideration. It is a matter of regret that in spite of the long lapse of time, the Bill has not as yet become law. It cannot be over- emphasized that the delay in having the proposed new legislation passed is handicapping this Council in its efforts to improve public health, because, as I have said in this Council before, the existing law is antiquated and quite inadequate to cope with the present day standard requirements for public health. There is a good number of unlicensed restaurants which are in a shocking condition, so far as hygiene is concerned, but under the present law the Council is powerless to deal with them decisively. The proposed new legislation will give the Council power to deal effectively with such an undesirable situation. In April last year I addressed this Council on the same subject, and I urged that expeditious action be taken to have the law passed. My appeal, however, has been in vain. In the interest of public health I like to take this opportunity of urging once more that action be taken forthwith to have the new legislation enacted without any further delay.
On the subject of the abattoirs, Sir, I am sorry to note that they are still in the planning stage only, although the project for one of them was decided upon many years ago. In his speech before this Council in April, 1958 my friend, Mr. Hilton CHEONG-LEEN, said this: "We have spoken about a new abattoir for five years and now that we have laid our plans for two abattoirs, let us not wait another five years". At the present rate of progress I am afraid by the end of the five years mentioned by Mr. CHEONG-LEEN, we may yet be without our new abattoirs! Mr. Chairman, might not the work be done in greater speed than this? It is a matter of urgency that we should not procrastinate any further in having the new abattoirs built and com- pleted, in view of the gross inadequacy and unhygienic conditions of our present slaughter house. I suggest that arrangement be made as soon as possible with the Public Works Department to have the building of the new abattoirs and the necessary staff quarters placed in the top priority list, so that they may be built as soon as their plans are finalized. I do hope that while we are waiting for the finalization of the plans for the abattoirs, the planning of the staff quarters is going ahead, so that they will be ready for occupation as soon as the new abattoirs are built. Every step must now be taken to avoid any delay in the full use of the new abattoirs for lack of accommodation to house the necessary operating staff.
Sir, on the subject of corruption, which is a burning question of the day, I welcome Government's decision to strenghthen the existing special committee to tackle the problem. There has been widespread
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.