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centre of the beach. There is some building work in progress and may I ask what that building represents?
CHAIRMAN:-It is a new building being put up as a store, changing rooms for bathers, etc. The Chairman of the Urban Amenities Select Committee may perhaps wish to elaborate further.
MR. SALES: I concur with Mr. CHEONG-LEEN that the condition at Deep Water Bay tends to be bad. I saw it yesterday, and observed for the first time that two buildings are apparently being built at Deep Water Bay. Presumably, the one in the middle of the beach is for changing rooms, latrines, first-aid rooms and other amenities, which the Council is going to provide. As regards the second one, would you care to clarify, Mr. Chairman?
CHAIRMAN:-I have not seen the second building.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-May I seek a further clarification, Mr. Chairman? Is it supposed to be for use this year, or next year?
CHAIRMAN:-May I ask which building you are referring to, Sir?
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-The one you were referring to.
CHAIRMAN: I think that it is intended to be completed this year.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:----- Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, but I observe that, at the present rate of building and from inquiries made yesterday on the spot, I doubt whether it will be available before next year. I do have your assurance, Sir, that it will be ready for this year?
CHAIRMAN:It is my impression that it will be ready this year.
DR. LEE:-Mr. Chairman, may I ask a supplementary question in respect of Repulse Bay? Unless this Council takes steps to provide sand for the beach, Sir, do you not agree that in view of the built-up area above Repulse Bay, there is little hope of sand being washed down after heavy rainstorms? From my own personal observation of the beaches below my house, I find that this is the case.
CHAIRMAN: ---I am grateful for your observation, Sir. This question of putting sand on the beach was in fact referred to the Urban Amenities Select Committee, but this was thought to be too expensive. However, I will put the question to them again.
MR. CHAN SHU-WOON asked the following question:--
The odour derived from the two nullahs, one at Tong Shui Road, North Point, the other at Canal Road East, Wan Chai, is unbearable especially during low tide periods. Will the Chairman inform the Council when will these nuisances be abated?
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:-
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I have consulted my friend, the Director of Public Works, who has informed me that preparations are being made to include the decking of these two nullahs in the 1963-64 Drainage Office programme, but that it is not possible to say at this stage whether the Public Works Sub-Committee of Finance Committee will feel justified in permitting this expenditure, which would be considerable. Note: See supplementary questions asked by Dr. A. M. S. BELL on page 117.
MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:----
(a) Will the Chairman advise how many persons are known to have drowned at beaches under the management of the Urban Services Department for the period 1st January- 30th June, 1962? How many were children under the age of 16?
(b) What was the total number of fatalities for the same period last year?
(c) What steps are being taken by the Department to reduce the danger of drowning of adults and children at Urban Services Department beaches during the coming months?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:---
You have asked, Sir, for certain figures for the period January 1st to June 30th. As the official bathing season does not start till April 1st every year, I have amended the period to read April 1st to June 30th.
So far this year, 3 persons have been drowned off urban bathing beaches. One of them was a boy under the age of 16.
For the corresponding period last year (1961), there were no fatalities on urban beaches.
To complete the picture, there have this year been 26 rescues, including 12 children under the age of 16. For the same period last year, there were 13 rescues, 8 of which were children under 16.
During the bathing season from April 1st to October 31st, beach staff (whose duties include life saving) are on duty 7 days a week at all public bathing beaches, from 10 a.m. to 7.30 p.m. At the bigger beaches, there are lookout posts on the shore and catamarans in the water. Even so, with dense crowds of persons bathing, it is not always possible to prevent accidents. Some indifferent swimmers
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centre of the beach. There is some building work in progress and may I ask what that building represents?
CHAIRMAN:-It is a new building being put up as a store, changing rooms for bathers, etc. The Chairman of the Urban Amenities Select Committee may perhaps wish to elaborate further.
MR. SALES: I concur with Mr. CHEONG-LEEN that the condition at Deep Water Bay tends to be bad. I saw it yesterday, and observed for the first time that two buildings are apparently being built at Deep Water Bay. Presumably, the one in the middle of the beach is for changing rooms, latrines, first-aid rooms and other amenities, which the Council is going to provide. As regards the second one, would you care to clarify, Mr. Chairman?
CHAIRMAN:-I have not seen the second building.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-May I seek a further clarification, Mr. Chairman? Is it supposed to be for use this year, or next year?
CHAIRMAN:-May I ask which building you are referring to, Sir?
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-The one you were referring to.
CHAIRMAN: I think that it is intended to be completed this year.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:----- Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, but I observe that, at the present rate of building and from inquiries made yesterday on the spot, I doubt whether it will be available before next year. I do have your assurance, Sir, that it will be ready for this year?
CHAIRMAN:It is my impression that it will be ready this year.
DR. LEE:-Mr. Chairman, may I ask a supplementary question in respect of Repulse Bay? Unless this Council takes steps to provide sand for the beach, Sir, do you not agree that in view of the built-up area above Repulse Bay, there is little hope of sand being washed down after heavy rainstorms? From my own personal observation of the beaches below my house, I find that this is the case.
CHAIRMAN: ---I am grateful for your observation, Sir. This ques- tion of putting sand on the beach was in fact referred to the Urban Amenities Select Committee, but this was thought to be too expensive. However, I will put the question to them again.
MR. CHAN SHU-WOON asked the following question:--
The odour derived from the two nullahs, one at Tong Shui Road, North Point, the other at Canal Road East, Wan Chai, is unbearable especially during low tide periods. Will the Chairman inform the Council when will these nuisances be abated?
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:-
105
I have consulted my friend, the Director of Public Works, who has informed me that preparations are being made to include the decking of these two nullahs in the 1963-64 Drainage Office programme, but that it is not possible to say at this stage whether the Public Works Sub-Committee of Finance Committee will feel justified in permitting this expenditure, which would be considerable. Note: See supplementary questions asked by Dr. A. M. S.
BELL on page 117.
MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:----
(a) Will the Chairman advise how many persons are known to have drowned at beaches under the management of the Urban Services Department for the period 1st January- 30th June, 1962? How many were children under the age of 16?
(b) What was the total number of fatalities for the same
period last year?
(c) What steps are being taken by the Department to reduce the danger of drowning of adults and children at Urban Services Department beaches during the coming months?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:---
You have asked, Sir, for certain figures for the period January 1st to June 30th. As the official bathing season does not start till April 1st every year, I have amended the period to read April 1st to June 30th.
So far this year, 3 persons have been drowned off urban bathing
beaches. One of them was a boy under the age of 16.
For the corresponding period last year (1961), there were no
fatalities on urban beaches.
To complete the picture, there have this year been 26 rescues, including 12 children under the age of 16. For the same period last year, there were 13 rescues, 8 of which were children under 16.
During the bathing season from April 1st to October 31st, beach staff (whose duties include life saving) are on duty 7 days a week at all public bathing beaches, from 10 a.m. to 7.30 p.m. At the bigger beaches, there are lookout posts on the shore and catamarans in the water. Even so, with dense crowds of persons bathing, it is not always possible to prevent accidents. Some indifferent swimmers
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