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CHAIRMAN:-Before proceeding to the business of the meeting, I am sure that Members will wish me to welcome Mr. SEDGWICK, who has taken over as Secretary for Chinese Affairs during the absence on leave of Mr. McDOUALL. Mr. SEDGWICK is no stranger to this Council. He served as Chairman for various periods in 1949, 1951 and 1954 and he also attended the Council as Acting Secretary for Chinese Affairs from July 1959 to March 1960. We are all glad to have him back. (Applause).
MINUTES.
The Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 3rd October, 1961, were confirmed.
PAPERS.
THE CHAIRMAN laid upon the table the following papers:-
(1) Report on the work of the Urban Council and Urban Services Department for the month of October 1961.
(2) Urban Council and Urban Services Department Statistical Report for the period 1st July, 1961, to 30th September, 1961.
(3) Report by the Commissioner for Resettlement on the progress of clearance and resettlement operations during the period 1st July, 1961, to 30th September, 1961.
MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question :-
"Several members of the public have suggested that the roofs of Queen's Pier in Hong Kong and the new Kowloon Pier in Tsim Sha Tsui be converted into covered promenades (where tea, cakes and other refreshments may be served to the public):
(a) Will the Director of Urban Services be good enough to inquire from the Public Works Department whether the roofs of these piers can be so converted?
(b) Will the Director of Urban Services also inquire from the Hong Kong Tourist Association whether such proposed promenades are potential tourist attractions?
(c) If the replies to (a) and (b) are favourable, will the Director of Urban Services take the necessary steps to implement the suggestion?”
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:
"I understand from my friend, the Director of Public Works, that the roofs of all existing piers, including the two mentioned by you, are not designed to carry a crowd and that
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it would therefore be unsafe to load them in the manner you suggest. However, the new pier to be constructed on the seaward side of the Central Reclamation will be designed to take such a load and your suggestion will therefore be pursued in this case.
With regard to the second part of your question, the Executive Director of the Hong Kong Tourist Association has informed me that he considers that these pier roof promenades would be a considerable attraction not only for tourists but to the general public as well.”
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, may I, with your permission, ask a supplementary question? Has the question of traffic congestion been taken into account when framing the answer to this question, these two points being two of the most congested areas in Kowloon and on the Island?
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, in answer to Mr. SALES' question, may I say that if I had raised the question of traffic congestion, I would have been ruled out of order by the Chairman of the Urban Council. (Laughter). May 1 ask Question No. 2?
MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, a point of order. You have not given me a reply.
CHAIRMAN:-My answer to the original question indicated that these two points are not going to be used for the purpose suggested by Mr. CHEONG-LEEN.
MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question :-
"I have received numerous complaints from hawkers in the area around Kwun Chung Hawker Bazaar in Kowloon to the effect that the strict enforcement of the Hawker By-laws by the Hawker Control Force is causing serious hardship to the hawkers in this area, and even affecting their very livelihood:
(a) Is the Director of Urban Services aware of this situation, and of the nature of the complaints?
(b) Is the Director of Urban Services in a position to give an assurance that immediate steps will be taken to ensure that the Hawker By-laws will be enforced in this area in a reasonable and humane manner?”
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:-
"Now that the policy of this Council in respect of control of hawkers is gradually being put into effect in this area, there is bound to be some reaction. But, on my present
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
CHAIRMAN:-Before proceeding to the business of the meeting, I am sure that Members will wish me to welcome Mr. SEDGWICK, who has taken over as Secretary for Chinese Affairs during the absence on leave of Mr. McDOUALL. Mr. SEDGWICK is no stranger to this Council. He served as Chairman for various periods in 1949, 1951 and 1954 and he also attended the Council as Acting Secretary for Chinese Affairs from July 1959 to March 1960. We are all glad to have him back. (Applause).
MINUTES.
The Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 3rd October, 1961, were confirmed.
PAPERS.
THE CHAIRMAN laid upon the table the following papers:-
(1) Report on the work of the Urban Council and Urban Services Department for the month of October 1961.
(2) Urban Council and Urban Services Department Statistical Report for the period 1st July, 1961, to 30th September, 1961.
(3) Report by the Commissioner for Resettlement on the progress of clearance and resettlement operations during the period 1st July, 1961, to 30th September, 1961. MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question :-
"Several members of the public have suggested that the roofs of Queen's Pier in Hong Kong and the new Kowloon Pier in Tsim Sha Tsui be converted into covered promenades (where tea, cakes and other refreshments may be served to the public):
(a) Will the Director of Urban Services be good enough to inquire from the Public Works Department whether the roofs of these piers can be so converted?
(b) Will the Director of Urban Services also inquire from the Hong Kong Tourist Association whether such proposed promenades are potential tourist attractions? (c) If the replies to (a) and (b) are favourable, will the Director of Urban Services take the necessary steps to implement the suggestion?”
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:
"I understand from my friend, the Director of Public Works, that the roofs of all existing piers, including the two men. tioned by you, are not designed to carry a crowd and that
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it would therefore be unsafe to load them in the manner you suggest. However, the new pier to be constructed on the seaward side of the Central Reclamation will be designed to take such a load and your suggestion will therefore be pursued in this case.
With regard to the second part of your question, the Executive Director of the Hong Kong Tourist Association has informed me that he considers that these pier roof promenades would be a considerable attraction not only for tourists but to the general public as well.”
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, may I, with your permission, ask a supplementary question? Has the question of traffic congestion been taken into account when framing the answer to this question, these two points being two of the most congested areas in Kowloon and on the
Island?
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, in answer to Mr. SALES' question, may I say that if I had raised the question of traffic congestion, I would have been ruled out of order by the Chairman of the Urban Council. (Laughter). May 1 ask Question No. 2?
MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, a point of order. You have not given me a reply.
CHAIRMAN:-My answer to the original question indicated that these two points are not going to be used for the purpose suggested by Mr. CHEONG-LEEN.
MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question : -
"I have received numerous complaints from hawkers in the area around Kwun Chung Hawker Bazaar in Kowloon to the effect that the strict enforcement of the Hawker By-laws by the Hawker Control Force is causing serious hardship to the hawkers in this area, and even affecting their very livelihood:
(a) Is the Director of Urban Services aware of this situation, and of the nature of the complaints?
(b) Is the Director of Urban Services in a position to give an assurance that immediate steps will be taken to ensure that the Hawker By-laws will be enforced in this area in a reasonable and humane manner?”
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:-
"Now that the policy of this Council in respect of control of hawkers is gradually being put into effect in this area, there is bound to be some reaction. But, on my present
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