Page 126 of 150
236
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, if you do so, may I suggest that you ask Government too that this Council be confirmed as the authority for the naming of hotels in Hong Kong. (Laughter).
CHAIRMAN: I think, Sir, that your request is out of order, as you are introducing new matter.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: I would have no objection to this suggestion being recorded.
MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:
Will the Chairman please clarify to what extent this Council is responsible for the provision of street lighting? Will the Chairman also advise whether Government has accepted the suggestion that this Council be the responsible authority for the provision of street lighting in the urban areas?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:
Periodically a list of priorities for new street lighting is prepared by the Department and referred to the Urban Amenities Select Committee. The list is then sent to the Director of Public Works who relates it to the recommendations of other departments, to his own programme of road construction and the ability of the power companies to carry it out. He then submits an overall programme of street lighting, together with the costs involved, which are considerable, to Government for consideration by the Public Works Sub-Committee and, subject to the Committee's acceptance of the expenditure involved, for inclusion in the annual estimates. This Council's views are always taken fully into account.
The question of transferring the responsibility for street lighting in the urban areas to the Urban Council has been considered by Government. It has been pointed out that street lighting is not usually installed purely as an amenity. It generally has more important functions from a road traffic safety and public security angle, which are primarily the concern of the Public Works Department and Police. It is further pointed out that the preparation of a street lighting programme involves a number of conflicting factors which must be correlated by one department; and since the work must for obvious reasons be related ultimately to the Roads Office programme of work, it is felt that the responsibility should remain where it is, with the Public Works Department.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
237
related ultimately to the Roads Office programme of work, it is felt that the responsibility should remain where it is, with the Public Works Department.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: Mr. Chairman, may I ask you, as Director of the Urban Services Department, whether from the department's point of view, street lighting should not be installed primarily as an amenity?
CHAIRMAN: Sir, I have nothing to add to the answer which I have already given. I do not agree with your suggestion.
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, may I suggest that this important matter be discussed in Committee of the Whole Council, as I think there are other aspects to be taken into account. I have brought certain discrepancies to the attention of the Council for a great number of years without in fact the grievances being redressed up to the present time.
CHAIRMAN: I would be glad to refer the matter to the Committee of the Whole Council.
MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:
I am given to understand that the suggestion that part of Tsim Sha Tsui railway terminus building be converted for use as shops has been turned down since the terminus will quite likely be moved to Hung Hom within the next five years. Will the Chairman please inquire from Government whether it has decided in principle to convert part of the terminus into a waterfront promenade? If no decision has yet been taken will the Chairman inquire whether Government would agree to make provision for such promenade in its advance planning?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:
I have been asked by Government to say that the planning of Tsim Sha Tsui and the Hung Hom Reclamation has been referred to the Town Planning Board. Work on the preliminary plans has already started and the suggestion that provision be made for a waterfront promenade will be passed to the Board for its consideration.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: May I ask you, Mr. Chairman, when the planning of this area was referred to the Town Planning Board?
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS: I think some time last year, Mr. Chairman.
Page 127 of 150
238
(The rest of the content is not revised as per the instructions, the above is the revised version of the given text)
Page 126 of 150
236
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, if you do so, may I suggest that you ask Government too that this Council be confirmed as the authority for the naming of hotels in Hong Kong. (Laughter).
CHAIRMAN: I think, Sir, that your request is out of order, as you are introducing new matter.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: I would have no objection to this suggestion being recorded.
MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:
Will the Chairman please clarify to what extent this Council is responsible for the provision of street lighting? Will the Chairman also advise whether Government has accepted the suggestion that this Council be the responsible authority for the provision of street lighting in the urban areas?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:
Periodically a list of priorities for new street lighting is prepared by the Department and referred to the Urban Amenities Select Committee. The list is then sent to the Director of Public Works who relates it to the recommendations of other departments, to his own programme of road construction and the ability of the power companies to carry it out. He then submits an overall programme of street lighting, together with the costs involved, which are considerable, to Government for consideration by the Public Works Sub-Committee and, subject to the Committee's acceptance of the expenditure involved, for inclusion in the annual estimates. This Council's views are always taken fully into account.
The question of transferring the responsibility for street lighting in the urban areas to the Urban Council has been considered by Government. It has been pointed out that street lighting is not usually installed purely as an amenity. It generally has more important functions from a road traffic safety and public security angle, which are primarily the concern of the Public Works Department and Police. It is further pointed out that the preparation of a street lighting programme involves a number of conflicting factors which must be correlated by one department; and since the work must for obvious reasons be related ultimately to the Roads Office programme of work, it is felt that the responsibility should remain where it is, with the Public Works Department.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
237
related ultimately to the Roads Office programme of work, it is felt that the responsibility should remain where it is, with the Public Works Department.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: Mr. Chairman, may I ask you, as Director of the Urban Services Department, whether from the department's point of view, street lighting should not be installed primarily as an amenity?
CHAIRMAN: Sir, I have nothing to add to the answer which I have already given. I do not agree with your suggestion.
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, may I suggest that this important matter be discussed in Committee of the Whole Council, as I think there are other aspects to be taken into account. I have brought certain discrepancies to the attention of the Council for a great number of years without in fact the grievances being redressed up to the present time.
CHAIRMAN: I would be glad to refer the matter to the Committee of the Whole Council.
MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:
I am given to understand that the suggestion that part of Tsim Sha Tsui railway terminus building be converted for use as shops has been turned down since the terminus will quite likely be moved to Hung Hom within the next five years. Will the Chairman please inquire from Government whether it has decided in principle to convert part of the terminus into a waterfront promenade? If no decision has yet been taken will the Chairman inquire whether Government would agree to make provision for such promenade in its advance planning?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:
I have been asked by Government to say that the planning of Tsim Sha Tsui and the Hung Hom Reclamation has been referred to the Town Planning Board. Work on the preliminary plans has already started and the suggestion that provision be made for a waterfront promenade will be passed to the Board for its consideration.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: May I ask you, Mr. Chairman, when the planning of this area was referred to the Town Planning Board?
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS: I think some time last year, Mr. Chairman.
Page 127 of 150
238
has been removed as it is not part of the original text that was to be revised, the above response is the correct revised version in HTML format as requested.E
Page 126 of 150
236
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, if you do so, may I suggest that you ask Government too that this Council be confirmed as the authority for the naming of hotels in Hong Kong. (Laughter).
CHAIRMAN:--I think, Sir, that your request is out of order, as you are introducing new matter.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-I would have no objection to this suggestion being recorded.
MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:
Will the Chairman please clarify to what extent this Council is responsible for the provision of street lighting? Will the Chairman also advise whether Government has accepted the suggestion that this Council be the responsi- ble authority for the provision of street lighting in the urban areas?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:
Periodically a list of priorities for new street lighting is pre- pared by the Department and referred to the Urban Amenities Select Committee. The list is then sent to the Director of Public Works who relates it to the recom- mendations of other departments, to his own programme of road construction and the ability of the power com- panies to carry it out. He then submits an overall pro- gramme of street lighting, together with the costs involved, which are considerable, to Government for consideration by the Public Works Sub-Committee and, subject to the Committee's acceptance of the expenditure involved, for inclusion in the annual estimates. This Council's views are always taken fully into account.
The question of transferring the responsibility for street lighting in the urban areas to the Urban Council has been con- sidered by Government. It has been pointed out that street lighting is not usually installed purely as an amenity. It generally has more important functions from a road traffic safety and public security angle, which are primarily the concern of the Public Works Department and Police. It is further pointed out that the preparation of a street lighting programme involves a number of con- flicting factors which must be correlated by one depart- ment; and since the work must for obvious reasons be
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
237
related ultimately to the Roads Office programme of work,
it is felt that the responsibility should remain where it is, with the Public Works Department.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, may I ask you, as Director of the Urban Services Department, whether from the department's point of view, street lighting should not be installed primarily as an amenity?
CHAIRMAN:-Sir, I have nothing to add to the answer which I have already given. I do not agree with your suggestion.
MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, may I suggest that this important matter be discussed in Committee of the Whole Council, as I think there are other aspects to be taken into account. I have brought certain discrepancies to the attention of the Council for a great number of years without in fact the grievances being redressed up to the present time.
CHAIRMAN: -I would be glad to refer the matter to the Committee of the Whole Council.
MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:-
I am given to understand that the suggestion that part of Tsim Sha Tsui railway terminus building be converted for use as shops has been turned down since the terminus will quite likely be moved to Hung Hom within the next five years. Will the Chairman please inquire from Govern- ment whether it has decided in principle to convert part of the terminus into a waterfront promenade? If no deci- sion has yet been taken will the Chairman inquire whether Government would agree to make provision for such pro- menade in its advance planning?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:-
I have been asked by Government to say that the planning of Tsim Sha Tsui and the Hung Hom Reclamation has been referred to the Town Planning Board. Work on the preliminary plans has already started and the suggestion that provision be made for a waterfront promenade will be passed to the Board for its consideration.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-May I ask you, Mr. Chairman, when the planning of this area was referred to the Town Planning Board?
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS: -I think some time last year, Mr. Chairman.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.