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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCILyears' time, but every effort is being made to provide alternative and better swimming facilities in its place. It is hoped that there will be a new public swimming pool at Cheung Sha Wan, and planning for this is about to begin. Tentative proposals have been included in the Kwai Chung Development Scheme for another swimming pool on the coast to the west of Lai Chi Kok, but it is premature to say whether this will prove feasible. The development of Kwai Chung is proceeding rapidly and a major contract for the next stage of the project should be let by the middle of 1963. This will include the construction of a new coast road from Cheung Sha Wan to Tsuen Wan via Gin Drinker's Bay. The new road will cross Lai Chi Kok Bay on a bridge, but this is being designed so as to have little or no effect on the pollution of the bay.
MR. WATSON:-Mr. Chairman, may I ask a supplementary question? In the third paragraph of your reply you said that Government is taking continuous action to reduce this pollution. Could you give us a brief account of what action Government is taking?
CHAIRMAN:-Sir, the action which is being taken regarding the pollution of the harbour is being handled by the Director of Marine, through a special committee on which the Urban Services Department is represented.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, may I ask through you, from the Deputy Director of Medical and Health Services whether, in view of the fact that Lai Chi Kok Beach is so popular among the residents of Kowloon, there is any justification to close that beach over the next 2 or 3 years?
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES:-I can only speak from the health angle--that if there is danger to the bathing community, then we would advise them not to bathe there. I cannot say anything more.
MR. BERNACCHI:-Mr. Chairman, if it is necessary for the Urban Services Department to be represented on the Director of Marine's committee, surely it is more appropriate for this Council to be represented?
CHAIRMAN:-Sir, I would be willing to consider the point. Representation at the moment is through the Superintendent (Cleansing), who has specialist knowledge of refuse disposal.
MR. SALES:-Mr. Chairman, arising out of your reply to the last supplementary question, would you please make representations to Government that it would be in the public interest for this Council to be represented on other important bodies as well?
CHAIRMAN:-I will take notice of your question.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL243
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask a supplementary on the subject question, even though I do support what Mr. SALES has said. I would like to seek further clarification from the Deputy Director of Medical and Health Services. Do I understand, Mr. Chairman, that he does not consider that the danger to public health at Lai Chi Kok Beach to be of such consequence that he would advise that the beach be closed this year?
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES:-I remember, Sir, during the cholera season we did inform the public that it was a health hazard to bathe in that particular area and it was left to the discretion of the individuals to choose other places where they could have their recreation. The question of closing the beach is a matter for this Council to decide.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: If my recollection is correct, Mr. Chairman, the Medical and Health Department has not so far requested this Council to close Lai Chi Kok Beach. Am I correct?
CHAIRMAN:-Yes, Sir.
MR. SALES:-Mr. Chairman, with your permission, as Chairman of the Urban Amenities Select Committee, I recall that this matter was referred by that Select Committee to the department concerned and acting on their advice the Select Committee through your department then made a public release on this question last summer.
DR. BELL:-Mr. Chairman, is every possible step being taken to prevent the closure of this beach and in every way to stop its pollution? If there is sewage seeping into the nullah, is that being prevented? If there is, although the Director of Public Works says there is not, a sewage pipe which goes into the sea somewhere near there, is every effort being made to extend the sewage pipe further out to sea, in order that the beach may perhaps be unpolluted and possibly for the population to continue to use it. I think that is most important.
CHAIRMAN:-Dr. BELL, your point will be considered. The Director of Public Works will, I am sure, be glad to go into it.
DR. R. H. S. LEE asked the following question:-
Is the Chairman aware of the swarms of flies and maggots found in the North Street bone sheds, and the offensive smell emanating from them particularly in the hot and humid summer months? As these nuisances are contrary to the health regulations of this Council, what steps does he propose to eradicate it?
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years' time, but every effort is being made to provide alternative and better swimming facilities in its place. It is hoped that there will be a new public swimming pool at Cheung Sha Wan, and planning for this is about to begin. Tentative proposals have been included in the Kwai Chung Development Scheme for another swimming pool on the coast to the west of Lai Chi Kok, but it is premature to say whether this will prove feasible. The development of Kwai Chung is proceeding rapidly and a major contract for the next stage of the project should be let by the middle of 1963. This will include the construction of a new coast road from Cheung Sha Wan to Tsuen Wan via Gin Drinker's Bay. The new road will cross Lai Chi Kok Bay on a bridge, but this is being designed so as to have little or no effect on the pollution of the bay.
MR. WATSON-Mr. Chairman, may I ask a supplementary ques- tion? In the third paragraph of your reply you said that Government is taking continuous action to reduce this pollution. Could you give us a brief account of what action Government is taking?
CHAIRMAN:-Sir, the action which is being taken regarding the pollution of the harbour is being handled by the Director of Marine, through a special committee on which the Urban Services Department is represented.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, may I ask through you, from the Deputy Director of Medical and Health Services whether, in view of the fact that Lai Chi Kok Beach is so popular among the residents of Kowloon, there is any justification to close that beach over the next 2 or 3 years?
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES:—I can only speak from the health angle--that if there is danger to the bathing community, then we would advise them not to bathe there. I cannot say anything more.
MR. BERNACCHI :-Mr. Chairman, if it is necessary for the Urban Services Department to be represented on the Director of Marine's com- mittee, surely it is more appropriate for this Council to be represented?
CHAIRMAN:-Sir, I would be willing to consider the point. Repre- sentation at the moment is through the Superintendent (Cleansing), who has specialist knowledge of refuse disposal.
MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, arising out of your reply to the last supplementary question, would you please make representations to Government that it would be in the public interest for this Council to be represented on other important bodies as well?
CHAIRMAN:-I will take notice of your question.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
243
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask a supple- mentary on the subject question, even though I do support what Mr. SALES has said. I would like to seek further clarification from the Deputy Director of Medical and Health Services. Do I understand, Mr. Chairman, that he does not consider that the danger to public health at Lai Chi Kok Beach to be of such consequence that he would advise that the beach be closed this year?
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES:—I remem- ber, Sir, during the cholera season we did inform the public that it was a health hazard to bathe in that particular area and it was left to the discretion of the individuals to choose other places where they could have their recreation. The question of closing the beach is a matter for this Council to decide.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: If my recollection is correct, Mr. Chairman, the Medical and Health Department has not so far requested this Council to close Lai Chi Kok Beach. Am I correct?
CHAIRMAN:-Yes, Sir.
MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, with your permission, as Chairman of the Urban Amenities Select Committee, I recall that this matter was referred by that Select Committee to the department concerned and acting on their advice the Select Committee through your department then made a public release on this question last summer.
DR. BELL:-Mr. Chairman, is every possible step being taken to prevent the closure of this beach and in every way to stop its pollution? If there is sewage seeping into the nullah, is that being prevented? If there is, although the Director of Public Works says there is not, a sewage pipe which goes into the sea somewhere near there, is every effort being made to extend the sewage pipe further out to sea, in order that the beach may perhaps be unpolluted and possibly for the popula- tion to continue to use it. I think that is most important.
CHAIRMAN:-Dr. BELL, your point will be considered. The Director of Public Works will, I am sure, be glad to go into it.
DR. R. H. S. LEE asked the following question:—
Is the Chairman aware of the swarms of flies and maggots found in the North Street bone sheds, and the offensive smell emanating from them particularly in the hot and humid summer months? As these nuisances are contrary to the health regulations of this Council, what steps does he propose to eradicate it?
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