1962 — Page 70

Urban Council Proceedings 市政局議事錄 All AI Reviewed

Page 70 of 150

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

Mark I.

Every one concerned a Dennis Paxit Major

The Foremen in charge of off-loading at the dump are now required to check the cover to the refuse hopper of every vehicle on arrival, and to report if any vehicle (other than the bin-lifter type) arrives unclosed.

MR. A. de O. SALES asked the following question:-

Will the Chairman please make a public statement on the following matters concerning our bathing beaches? (a) What measures are normally taken to keep the beaches clean?

(b) What is the policy in respect to the removal of rocks and stones?

(d) When will the decision made in the last financial year by the Urban Amenities Select Committee for catamarans to be equipped with outboard motors be implemented? Is not such a measure designed to expedite and facilitate the removal of filth and rubbish from the water?

(e) To what extent has outside expert opinion been sought on how our beaches can be improved?

(f) How many beaches are there in the urban area under the direct control of the Council? How many are there in the New Territories which your Department administers?

(g) How many new beaches have been developed and opened to the public in the last five years?

(h) What steps are being taken to make more beaches available to the public by the provision of amenities and the opening of roads?

THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:-

Points (a) and (c) concern keeping the beaches clean. This means removing refuse from the waters immediately off the beach and also refuse deposited on the beach by bathers themselves. Refuse in the water occurs more frequently at some beaches than at others and appears to be largely the result of wind and current. Beaches on the south side of Hong Kong island tend to suffer more when the wind blows from the south-west. The refuse probably comes from ships, fishing anchorages, streams discharging into the sea and other sources. It is noticeable that the nuisance is worst after heavy rain. Most beaches are equipped with long-handled scoops and small fishing nets for trawling through the water at the turn of the tide. Manhandling the nets is a laborious process that generally means taking a disproportionate number of beach staff away from their primary task of saving life. As regards refuse on the beaches themselves, despite the provision of litter-containers at convenient points not enough use is made of them, and far too many beach users simply drop rubbish where they are sitting. Anti-litter talks are broadcast regularly at weekends and holidays on the principal beaches, and labourers are employed at all beaches for the purpose of collecting refuse. Help in collecting rubbish on the beaches is also given by the beach attendants.

Point (b) concerns the removal of rocks and stones. Within the limits of money and staff available, it has been the policy for many years to remove rocks and stones where they inconvenience bathers. Many hundreds of tons of rocks have been shifted in the past 15 years. I am aware that, at some beaches, notably Repulse Bay, there has recently been criticism that nothing at all appears to have been done. This is not correct. The trouble is that, at Repulse Bay, the level of the sand has dropped perceptibly over the years and there is doubt whether the removal of more rocks will not aggravate this loss of sand, so as to expose further rocks lying below. The Urban Amenities Select Committee, of which you are the Chairman, recently decided that the rocks and stones at Repulse Bay, Middle Bay and South Bay will have to be removed. Action has already been taken on these beaches and I hope that bathers will find some improvement. The removal of these rocks and stones is unlikely to be a once-only operation, for, apart from the devastating results of typhoons and tropical storms, the natural action of waves and currents tends to bring back rocks and stones.

Point (d) concerns outboard motors for catamarans at bathing beaches. The decision of the Urban Amenities Select Committee to purchase these outboard motors was made towards the end of 1961. Because there was some doubt whether the cost of the engines was a fit charge on the Urban Amenities Block Vote, it was proposed to include an item in the draft Estimates for 1962/63, but by the

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Page 70 of 150 HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL Mark I. Every one concerned a Dennis Paxit Major The Foremen in charge of off-loading at the dump are now required to check the cover to the refuse hopper of every vehicle on arrival, and to report if any vehicle (other than the bin-lifter type) arrives unclosed. MR. A. de O. SALES asked the following question:- Will the Chairman please make a public statement on the following matters concerning our bathing beaches? (a) What measures are normally taken to keep the beaches clean? (b) What is the policy in respect to the removal of rocks and stones? (c) What is being done to remove filth and rubbish from the water? (d) When will the decision made in the last financial year by the Urban Amenities Select Committee for catamarans to be equipped with outboard motors be implemented? Is not such a measure designed to expedite and facilitate the removal of filth and rubbish from the water? (e) To what extent has outside expert opinion been sought on how our beaches can be improved? (f) How many beaches are there in the urban area under the direct control of the Council? How many are there in the New Territories which your Department administers? (g) How many new beaches have been developed and opened to the public in the last five years? (h) What steps are being taken to make more beaches available to the public by the provision of amenities and the opening of roads? THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:- Points (a) and (c) concern keeping the beaches clean. This means removing refuse from the waters immediately off the beach and also refuse deposited on the beach by bathers themselves. Refuse in the water occurs more frequently at some beaches than at others and appears to be largely the result of wind and current. Beaches on the south side of Hong Kong island tend to suffer more when the wind blows from the south-west. The refuse probably comes from ships, fishing anchorages, streams discharging into the sea and other sources. It is noticeable that the nuisance is worst after heavy rain. Most beaches are equipped with long-handled scoops and small fishing nets for trawling through the water at the turn of the tide. Manhandling the nets is a laborious process that generally means taking a disproportionate number of beach staff away from their primary task of saving life. As regards refuse on the beaches themselves, despite the provision of litter-containers at convenient points not enough use is made of them, and far too many beach users simply drop rubbish where they are sitting. Anti-litter talks are broadcast regularly at weekends and holidays on the principal beaches, and labourers are employed at all beaches for the purpose of collecting refuse. Help in collecting rubbish on the beaches is also given by the beach attendants. Point (b) concerns the removal of rocks and stones. Within the limits of money and staff available, it has been the policy for many years to remove rocks and stones where they inconvenience bathers. Many hundreds of tons of rocks have been shifted in the past 15 years. I am aware that, at some beaches, notably Repulse Bay, there has recently been criticism that nothing at all appears to have been done. This is not correct. The trouble is that, at Repulse Bay, the level of the sand has dropped perceptibly over the years and there is doubt whether the removal of more rocks will not aggravate this loss of sand, so as to expose further rocks lying below. The Urban Amenities Select Committee, of which you are the Chairman, recently decided that the rocks and stones at Repulse Bay, Middle Bay and South Bay will have to be removed. Action has already been taken on these beaches and I hope that bathers will find some improvement. The removal of these rocks and stones is unlikely to be a once-only operation, for, apart from the devastating results of typhoons and tropical storms, the natural action of waves and currents tends to bring back rocks and stones. Point (d) concerns outboard motors for catamarans at bathing beaches. The decision of the Urban Amenities Select Committee to purchase these outboard motors was made towards the end of 1961. Because there was some doubt whether the cost of the engines was a fit charge on the Urban Amenities Block Vote, it was proposed to include an item in the draft Estimates for 1962/63, but by the Page 71 of 150 124 125 HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL ...

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150 124 Page 70 of 150 noted. HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL Mark I. Every one concerned a Dennis Paxit Major The Foremen in charge of off-loading at the dump are now required to check the cover to the refuse hopper of every vehicle on arrival, and to report if any vehicle (other than the bin-lifter type) arrives unclosed. MR. A. de O. SALES asked the following question:- Will the Chairman please make a public statement on the following matters concerning our bathing beaches? (a) What measures are normally taken to keep the beaches clean? (b) What is the policy in respect to the removal of rocks and stones? (c) What is being done to remove filth and rubbish from the water? (d) When will the decision made in the last financial year by the Urban Amenities Select Committee for catamarans to be equipped with outboard motors be implemented? Is not such a measure designed to expedite and facilitate the removal of filth and rubbish from the water? (e) To what extent has outside expert opinion been sought on how our beaches can be improved? (f) How many beaches are there in the urban area under the direct control of the Council? How many are there in the New Territories which your Department administers? (g) How many new beaches have been developed and opened to the public in the last five years? (h) What steps are being taken to make more beaches available to the public by the provision of amenities and the opening of roads? THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:- Points (a) and (c) concern keeping the beaches clean. This means removing refuse from the waters immediately off the beach and also refuse deposited on the beach by bathers themselves. Refuse in the water occurs more frequently at some beaches than at others and appears to be largely the result of wind and current. Beaches on the south side of Hong Kong island tend to suffer more when the wind blows from the south-west. The refuse HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL 125 probably comes from ships, fishing anchorages, streams discharging into the sea and other sources. It is notice- able that the nuisance is worst after heavy rain. Most beaches are equipped with long-handled scoops and small fishing nets for trawling through the water at the turn of the tide. Manhandling the nets is a laborious process that generally means taking a disproportionate number of beach staff away from their primary task of saving life. As regards refuse on the beaches themselves, despite the provision of litter-containers at convenient points not enough use is made of them, and far too many beach users simply drop rubbish where they are sitting. Anti- litter talks are broadcast regularly at weekends and holidays on the principal beaches, and labourers are employed at all beaches for the purpose of collecting refuse. Help in collecting rubbish on the beaches is also given by the beach attendants. Point (b) concerns the removal of rocks and stones. Within the limits of money and staff available, it has been the policy for many years to remove rocks and stones where they inconvenience bathers. Many hundreds of tons of rocks have been shifted in the past 15 years. I am aware that, at some beaches, notably Repulse Bay, there has recently been criticism that nothing at all appears to have been done. This is not correct. The trouble is that, at Repulse Bay, the level of the sand has dropped per- ceptibly over the years and there is doubt whether the removal of more rocks will not aggravate this loss of sand, so as to expose further rocks lying below. The Urban Amenities Select Committee, of which you are the Chairman, recently decided that the rocks and stones at Repulse Bay, Middle Bay and South Bay will have to be removed. Action has already been taken on these beaches and I hope that bathers will find some improve- ment. The removal of these rocks and stones is unlikely to be a once-only operation, for, apart from the devastat- ing results of typhoons and tropical storms, the natural action of waves and currents tends to bring back rocks and stones. Point (d) concerns outboard motors for catamarans at bathing beaches. The decision of the Urban Amenities Select Committee to purchase these outboard motors was made towards the end of 1961. Because there was some doubt whether the cost of the engines was a fit charge on the Urban Amenities Block Vote, it was proposed to include an item in the draft Estimates for 1962/63, but by the Page 70Page 71

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Page 70 of 150

noted.

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

Mark I.

Every one concerned a Dennis Paxit Major

MR. A. de O. SALES asked the following question:-

Will the Chairman please make a public statement on the following matters concerning our bathing beaches? (a) What measures are normally taken to keep the

beaches clean?

(b) What is the policy in respect to the removal of rocks

and stones?

the water?

(e) To what extent has outside expert opinion been sought on how our beaches can be improved?

(f) How many beaches are there in the urban area under

the direct control of the Council?

How many are there in the New Territories which your Department administers?

(g) How many new beaches have been developed and

opened to the public in the last five years?

(h) What steps are being taken to make more beaches available to the public by the provision of amenities and the opening of roads?

THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:-

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

125

probably comes from ships, fishing anchorages, streams discharging into the sea and other sources. It is notice- able that the nuisance is worst after heavy rain. Most beaches are equipped with long-handled scoops and small fishing nets for trawling through the water at the turn of the tide. Manhandling the nets is a laborious process that generally means taking a disproportionate number of beach staff away from their primary task of saving life. As regards refuse on the beaches themselves, despite the provision of litter-containers at convenient points not enough use is made of them, and far too many beach users simply drop rubbish where they are sitting. Anti- litter talks are broadcast regularly at weekends and holidays on the principal beaches, and labourers are employed at all beaches for the purpose of collecting refuse. Help in collecting rubbish on the beaches is also given by the beach attendants.

Point (b) concerns the removal of rocks and stones. Within the limits of money and staff available, it has been the policy for many years to remove rocks and stones where they inconvenience bathers. Many hundreds of tons of rocks have been shifted in the past 15 years. I am aware that, at some beaches, notably Repulse Bay, there has recently been criticism that nothing at all appears to have been done. This is not correct. The trouble is that, at Repulse Bay, the level of the sand has dropped per- ceptibly over the years and there is doubt whether the removal of more rocks will not aggravate this loss of sand, so as to expose further rocks lying below. The Urban Amenities Select Committee, of which you are the Chairman, recently decided that the rocks and stones at Repulse Bay, Middle Bay and South Bay will have to be removed. Action has already been taken on these beaches and I hope that bathers will find some improve- ment. The removal of these rocks and stones is unlikely to be a once-only operation, for, apart from the devastat- ing results of typhoons and tropical storms, the natural action of waves and currents tends to bring back rocks and stones.

1962 — Page 70

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