1960 — Page 41

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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

Page 41 of 118

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covered by paragraph 4 of the report of the Sub-Committee, who considered that reference of files at least twice to the delegated member was a sufficient safeguard. Everything possible is being done to cut down red tape, and I shall always be receptive of any constructive suggestions for achieving this end. The new system for handling complaints from the public by telephone in and out of office hours has proved very successful. For the benefit of the public, I would mention that the telephone numbers are as follows:-

Office hours

Out of office hours:

Hong Kong Kowloon

95551

48443

69394

Copies of the complaints are circulated immediately to senior officers. In connexion with complaints, I am aware of the need for the most cordial relations with the general public and I am confident that we can achieve this with the ready co-operation of the staff of the Urban Services Department and of the Information Services Department with- out the necessity to ask for the posting of an officer from the latter Department.

Dr. P. F. Woo raised the question of a permanent Secretary for the Urban Council, and members will be happy to know that Government has accepted the recommendation of the Salaries Commission to the effect that there should be a permanent appointment of Secretary, Urban Council. The post has thus been taken out of the Executive Grade.

Mr. Wilfred WONG stressed the importance of character in the recruitment of officers to this Department. He may rest assured that the greatest care is taken in recruitment and that this quality is in the forefront of necessary qualifications.

Dr. Raymond LEE and Mr. Li Fook-shu raised the question of bathing facilities, and the latter called for the construction of more swimming pools to replace Lai Chi Kok and Kennedy Town, where the water is not as clean as might be desired. Subject to the availability of the necessary funds, it is in fact the Council's intention after comple- tion of the magnificent pool in Kowloon Tsai Park to build pools at Cheung Sha Wan, Kennedy Town, Hung Hom and elsewhere in due course, though we should not overlook the fact that attendance at the Victoria Park Swimming Pool tended to fall off slightly last year. We should not, however, in our anxiety to provide these facilities, underrate the possibilities of further developing the natural sea-bathing facilities in this territory of ours. Fresh air is the most important requirement for congested city dwellers and a hike from Wan Chai to Deep Water Bay is not very far and highly beneficial to health. There are few

places in the world with such wonderful natural bathing beaches as Hong Kong, and most other countries would be jealous if they knew of their proximity to the centre of the city. A visit to the beach calls for a little extra effort, but I feel certain that it is more than amply repaid, taking into account the fee that must necessarily be charged for entry into a swimming pool. I can assure the public that the Department will do all they can to create and improve facilities and trust that a great improvement will be noted this year on the New Territories beaches, particularly in the field of sanitation and cleanliness. By the end of the season, I trust that Campers, Trio, Lobster, Deity, Hairpin and Long Sands Beaches will be familiar to all the bathing public and that they will also not be disturbed by the new names Approach, Hoi I am Mei, Gemini, Anglers and Dragon applied to established beaches. sorry that I have been unable to make much progress on developing Chung Hom Kok which should really be a second-and I hope a better controlled-Repulse Bay. Development would involve the construction of an expensive road and the acquisition of agricultural land for a large parking area. It would also be necessary to resettle the cultivators, most of whom are old residents and part-time fishermen. It is difficult to justify such development when so few persons have ever ventured down the path and sampled the excellent bathing facilities. For the benefit of members of the public who are unaware of its location, I would mention that it is on the right-hand side of the road running to the old Army fort at Chung Hom Kok from Stanley Gap.

If I may turn now to the City Hall, it has been my intention, pending the appointment of the Manager with effect from the 1st August, 1960, to cover every possible aspect and to pave the way for its completion. Mr. SALES has at least paid me the compliment of mentioning that the Select Committee has called a halt which indicates that the Department is doing something. In this connexion, I do not think that the public fully appreciate the good value for money which the City Hall offers. Due to the excellence and resource of the architects and the contractors, the whole scheme is probably under the target figure of $20,000,000, and this includes a wide variety of furniture, furnishings and equipment. I am happy to state that if brakes have been applied they have in general only retarded proposals such as the acquisition of musical instruments, provision for which was included in the Estimates. The Department is only too happy to follow the wishes of the members, as the less the equipment the easier the task of the management. As regards the Library, the question of trained staff is under consideration in the Secretariat, and hope that it will not be

long before a decision is made. I would emphasize that there will be less difficulty in acquiring books than in cataloguing them, as the current provision of $300,000-I do not consider this a "token sum" as sug- gested by one member-is generous, whereas trained staff in the Colony are few and far between.