HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
plant might be operating in three to four years time, in which event use of all three of the dustboat stations on the island would be discontinued.
As far as your specific complaint about Gloucester Road is concerned, I am aware that in certain conditions there is a disagreeable odour from the refuse there, but each barge is normally filled in a matter of four to five hours and then removed. Potential fly nuisance is kept down by regular spraying with insecticide during barge loading.
I am afraid that your suggestion for the removal of this dust-boat station elsewhere would not be practicable, even as a temporary measure until the setting up of the proposed incineration plant. An alternative site away from the built-up area might possibly be found, assuming that funds for the purpose were forthcoming, but such a site would necessarily mean that each refuse collecting vehicle would spend at least an extra hour on the return journey. Since the department now has only just enough collecting vehicles in Hong Kong to cope with the present volume of refuse, this change of dustboat station from a more or less central position in Hong Kong would require either a large number of additional vehicles (costing $42,000 each) or result in an unacceptable proportion of uncollected refuse every day. For health reasons, the latter alternative could not be contemplated. The main argument for leaving the Gloucester Road dustboat station where it is rests on the grounds that, in the present state of the Colony's finances, it would be totally uneconomical to shift it when there are proposals for doing away with all dustboat stations in Hong Kong within the next few years. The collection and disposal of nearly 900 tons of refuse a day from Hong Kong and Kowloon is a mammoth task, and the amount is increasing at a rate of 15% per annum, in keeping with the speed of urban development. It is regrettable but at present unavoidable that in the execution of this task, some inconvenience to the public may be caused. I have every sympathy with residents of Gloucester Road and you may rest assured that the staff of the department do their very best to reduce offensiveness to the minimum, but they cannot prevent all smell. Finally, I must add that possibly not all of the blame for the smell should be laid on the Gloucester Road dustboat station. The Bowrington Canal which on occasion can be fairly pungent, also discharges beside the ramp.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. CHAN:-Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for your very clear answer.
DR. R. H. S. LEE asked the following question:-
"(a) Will the Chairman state how the City Hall Library contract was awarded in respect to the purchase of books for the proposed City Hall Library out of this year's library vote?
(b) In view of the dissatisfaction expressed in certain quarters concerning the form in which the tenders were asked, will the Chairman take remedial measures to correct this in future so that contractors will know what they are bidding for is not just a list of books but potential business for the whole year, and the Library Sub-Committee be given the opportunity to scrutinize the tenders?"
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:
"This concerns the tender for the supply of books to the City Hall Library.
The supply of books for the City Hall Library was considered early in November 1959, and it was decided to seek the advice of the Crown Agents in order to ascertain if possible the most convenient and economic means of purchase. A letter was accordingly addressed to the Crown Agents enclosing a schedule of 137 items, prepared by the Librarian, which showed the conventional manner in which books would be specified.
With their reply, the Crown Agents submitted an offer obtained from a leading firm of London export booksellers who quoted list prices at a certain discount; and included free packing, postal and freight charges. The Crown Agents were of the opinion however that if a similar offer could be obtained in Hong Kong local purchase might well be more convenient.
Quotations were accordingly invited on 11th January 1960 from four local sources, namely:--
Kelly & Walsh Ltd.
Messrs. Harris Book Co.
Messrs. Swindon Book Co.
Messrs. Fidelity Inspection Service (Mail Order Books)
on the basis of the schedule forwarded earlier to the Crown Agents.
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
plant might be operating in three to four years time, in which event use of all three of the dustboat stations on the island would be discontinued.
As far as your specific complaint about Gloucester Road is concerned, I am aware that in certain conditions there is a disagreeable odour from the refuse there, but each barge is normally filled in a matter of four to five hours and then removed. Potential fly nuisance is kept down by regular spraying with insecticide during barge loading.
I am afraid that your suggestion for the removal of this dust- boat station elsewhere would not be practicable, even as a temporary measure until the setting up of the proposed incineration plant. An alternative site away from the built-up area might possibly be found, assuming that funds for the purpose were forthcoming, but such a site would necessarily mean that each refuse collecting vehicle would spend at least an extra hour on the return journey. Since
the department now has only just enough collecting vehicles in Hong Kong to cope with the present volume of refuse, this change of dustboat station from a more or less central position in Hong Kong would require either a large number of additional vehicles (costing $42,000 each) or result in an unacceptable proportion of uncollected refuse every day. For health reasons, the latter alterna- tive could not be contemplated. The main argument for leaving the Gloucester Road dustboat station where it is rests on the grounds that, in the present state of the Colony's finances, it would be totally uneconomical to shift it when there are proposals for doing away with all dustboat stations in Hong Kong within the next few years. The collection and disposal of nearly 900 tons of refuse a day from Hong Kong and Kowloon is a mammoth task, and the amount is increasing at a rate of 15% per annum, in keeping with the speed of urban development. It is re- grettable but at present unavoidable that in the execution of this task, some inconvenience to the public may be caused. I have every sympathy with residents of Gloucester Road and you may rest assured that the staff of the department do their very best to reduce offensive- ness to the minimum, but they cannot prevent all smell. Finally, I must add that possibly not all of the blame for the smell should be laid on the Gloucester Road dustboat station. The Bowrington Canal which on occasion can be fairly pungent, also discharges beside the ramp."
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
125
MR. CHAN:-Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for your very clear
answer.
DR. R. H. S. LEE asked the following question:-
wwwwwwww
"(a) Will the Chairman state how the City Hall Library con- tract was awarded in respect to the purchase of books for the proposed City Hall Library out of this year's library vote?
(b) In view of the dissatisfaction expressed in certain quarters concerning the form in which the tenders were asked, will the Chairman take remedial measures to correct this in future so that contractors will know what they are bidding for is not just a list of books but potential business for the whole year, and the Library Sub-Committee be given the opportunity to scrutinize the tenders?"
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:
"This concerns the tender for the supply of books to the City
Hall Library.
The supply of books for the City Hall Library was considered early in November 1959, and it was decided to seek the advice of the Crown Agents in order to ascertain if possible the most convenient and economic means of purchase. A letter was accordingly addressed to the Crown Agents enclosing a schedule of 137 items, prepared by the Librarian, which showed the conventional manner in which books would be specified.
With their reply, the Crown Agents submitted an offer obtained from a leading firm of London export booksellers who quoted list prices at a certain discount; and included free packing, postal and freight charges. The Crown Agents were of the opinion however that if a similar offer could be obtained in Hong Kong local purchase might well be more convenient.
Quotations were accordingly invited on 11th January 1960
from four local sources, namely:--
Kelly & Walsh Ltd.
Messrs. Harris Book Co.
Messrs. Swindon Book Co.
Messrs. Fidelity Inspection Service (Mail Order
Books)
on the basis of the schedule forwarded earlier to the Crown Agents.
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Page 71 of 118
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