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132
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
(At this point, Mr. CHEONG-LEEN entered the meeting).
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, my apologies for coming late.
I was not advised by the Director of Public Works that the lift service was a bit erratic this afternoon.
MR. KWAN:-Any more excuses? (Laughter).
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-I think my excuse is good enough.
MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:-
"Several residents living in Ap Lei Chau have requested that their concern over the shortage of children's playground space in that area be once again emphasized to the Urban Services Department; will the Chairman please ascertain from the Public Works Department when will the reclamation and clearance work be completed so that the Urban Services Department can commence building a Promenade and Children's Playground in that district?"
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:-
"This concerns playground facilities and other matters at Ap Lei Chau.
As you may be aware, proposals for reclamation between Aberdeen and Ap Lei Chau were gazetted in accordance with the Public Reclamations and Works Ordinance on 30th June, 1960. Pending consideration of objections which have been received as a result of this Gazette Notification it is not possible to say when the building of a promenade or additional children's playground can be considered."
MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:-
"In view of the heavy pollution of the water at Lai Chi Kok Beach, and the consequent public health danger, will the Chairman please advise:
(a) What steps are being taken to provide a swimming pool in that vicinity?
(b) Has a suitable site been found yet?
(c) Would the Chairman give his assurance that every measure will be taken by the Urban Services Department to have a swimming pool in that area completed by 1962 at the latest?"
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:
133
"These questions deal with a proposal to build a Swimming Pool at Lai Chi Kok and may be answered as follows:- (a) As a result of concern expressed by members of the Urban Amenities and Environmental Hygiene Select Committees over the polluted state of the water at Lai Chi Kok Beach, the Urban Amenities Select Committee recommended in July of this year the inclusion in the Public Works Non-Recurrent Programme of a project for a Public Swimming Pool in the Lai Chi Kok/Kau Wa Keng area. Such a recommendation has already been submitted to Government.
(b) No approach has as yet been made to Hon. Director of Public Works for the allocation of a site, but this will be done in due course provided that Government approves the construction of this Swimming Pool. You will appreciate, however, that it may be some time before
(i) the development plans for the Lai Chi Kok Beach/Kau Wa Keng area are finalized;
(ii) any particular site in this area becomes available; and also that Public Swimming Pools already in the Public Works Programme include one which will be constructed on a site near the junction of Pratas Street and Kwong Lee Street at Li Cheng Uk. The Urban Amenities Select Committee have approved a programme which envisages this site being cleared by April 1962 and it is therefore more than likely that this Li Cheng Uk Pool will come into being before any one which may be approved for Lai Chi Kok.
(c) You will understand from the facts already given by me that I am unable to give you the assurance you seek regarding the completion date of the proposed Lai Chi Kok Pool."
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, one supplementary please. How serious is the health danger to the people swimming at the Lai Chi Kok Beach?
CHAIRMAN:-I understand that it is not as serious as one might imagine and that there is no grave risk involved.
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18
Page 74 of 118
132
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
(At this point, Mr. CHEONG-LEEN entered the meeting).
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, my apologies for coming late.
I was not advised by the Director of Public Works that the lift service was a bit erratic this afternoon.
MR. KWAN:-Any more excuses? (Laughter).
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-I think my excuse is good enough.
MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:-
"Several residents living in Ap Lei Chau have requested that their concern over the shortage of children's playground space in that area be once again emphasized to the Urban Services Department; will the Chairman please ascertain from the Public Works Department when will the reclama- tion and clearance work be completed so that the Urban Services Department can commence building a Promenade and Children's Playground in that district?"
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows: -
"This concerns playground facilities and other matters at Ap
Lei Chau.
As you may be aware, proposals for reclamation between Aberdeen and Ap Lei Chau were gazetted in accordance with the Public Reclamations and Works Ordinance on 30th June, 1960. Pending consideration of objections which have been received as a result of this Gazette Notification it is not possible to say when the building of a promenade or additional children's playground can be considered."
MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:-
"In view of the heavy pollution of the water at Lai Chi Kok Beach, and the consequent public health danger, will the Chairman please advise:
(a) What steps are being taken to provide a swimming
pool in that vicinity?
(b) Has a suitable site been found yet?
(c) Would the Chairman give his assurance that every
measure will be taken by the Urban Services Depart- ment to have a swimming pool in that area completed by 1962 at the latest?"
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:
133
"These questions deal with a proposal to build a Swimming
Pool at Lai Chi Kok and may be answered as follows:- (a) As a result of concern expressed by members of the Urban Amenities and Environmental Hygiene Select Committees over the polluted state of the water at Lai Chi Kok Beach, the Urban Amenities Select Committee recommended in July of this year the inclusion in the Public Works Non-Recurrent Pro- gramme of a project for a Public Swimming Pool in the Lai Chi Kok/Kau Wa Kang area. Such a recom- mendation has already been submitted to Govern-
ment.
(b) No approach has as yet been made to Hon. Director of Public Works for the allocation of a site, but this will be done in due course provided that Government approves the construction of this Swimming Pool. You will appreciate, however, that it may be some time before
(i) the development plans for the Lai Chi Kok Beach/Kau Wa Kang area are finalized;
(ii) any particular site in this area becomes available; and also that Public Swimming Pools already in the Public Works Pro- gramme include one which will be con- structed on a site near the junction of Pratas Street and Kwong Lee Street at Li Cheng Uk. The Urban Amenities Select Committee have approved a programme which envisages this site being cleared by April 1962 and it is therefore more than likely that this Li Cheng Uk Pool will come into being before any one which may be approved for Lai Chi Kok.
(c) You will understand from the facts already given by me that I am unable to give you the assurance you seek regarding the completion date of the proposed Lai Chi Kok Pool."
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, one supplementary please. How serious is the health danger to the people swimming at the Lai Chi Kok Beach?
CHAIRMAN: -I understand that it is not as serious as one might imagine and that there is no grave risk involved.
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