1963 — Page 55

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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

The department already operates a year-round "Keep Your City Clean" campaign, which was started in 1959 and is still continuing. Teams with loud hailers patrol continually in the congested areas, warn- ing against spitting and indiscriminate depositing of litter. Because this campaign has, in effect, become part of the normal activities of the department without eliciting the response we hoped for, it was felt that an additional stimulus was required, in the form of a three-week in- tensive educational and publicity campaign. Details of the campaign are given in the monthly report tabled today.

The department will continue to try to improve the cleanliness of our streets. I am most conscious that there is room for further improve- ment, especially in the side streets, but until indiscriminate depositing of litter becomes socially unacceptable amongst all our residents, we face an uphill task, even though we enjoy the full co-operation of the Kaifong Welfare Associations.

Mr. CHEONG-LEEN went on to suggest that we should have a separate "Keep Your City Clean" Select Committee. I regret that I can see no compelling reason for this as long as we have an Environ- mental Hygiene Select Committee and a Health Education Select Com- mittee.

I am grateful to Dr. Woo for raising a number of extremely pertinent points about markets. I agree with him that a newcomer to Hong Kong would not at first sight realize that the new Tang Lung Chau Market is in fact a market, partly because the main entrance has been placed in a side street to reduce congestion, and partly because the building has been totally enclosed to provide security and protection from the weather. However, since the new market occupies the same site as the old market, and since the Happy Valley and Canal Road Kaifong Welfare Association has been publicising it, I am fairly sure that most housewives in the vicinity are aware of its existence. But if Dr. Woo has any doubts on this point, I will gladly devise means of publicising it further.

Regarding refrigeration facilities, Dr. Woo will be glad to know that it is proposed to include ample refrigeration chambers in all future markets for the storage of meat, fish and poultry. His suggestion that new markets should include a special section for the sale of quick frozen foods will, I am sure, be borne in mind by the Markets Select Committee.

I agree entirely with Dr. Woo that the time has come to recon- sider the policy on fresh provision shops in relation to markets. This is a complex matter that will require most careful consideration, and will be referred to the Select Committees concerned.

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Turning finally to amenities, both Mr. Wilson WANG and Mr. LI Yiu-bor pressed for the construction of one or more large indoor stadia. I am conscious that some Members feel that Government has not in the past given this proposal sympathetic consideration. To them I would say this: all ideas for providing new or improved amenities for the community are welcome, but until now Government has felt that it could not accept the proposal for an indoor stadium because its avail- able resources were needed for other, more pressing purposes, including projects sponsored by this Council. If the Council still feels that a public indoor stadium is a priority need, then the next step will be to prepare a detailed and workable scheme for reconsideration by Government.

Mr. FUNG Hon-chu made a special plea for the setting up of street playgrounds. I am grateful to him for this valuable suggestion, which, I promise, will be followed up. We must, I think, accept that there are usually difficulties in the way of closing any street during the whole of a day.

I agree with Dr. LEE that we must take all possible steps to keep our beaches clean, and we shall spare no effort to this end. We must also maintain, and where possible improve, the condition of the beaches themselves, and as a step in this direction we have asked the United Kingdom Government's Hydraulics Research Station whether they can assist us in devising means of maintaining an adequate sand cover on the main Island beaches. However, as population grows so must we rely more and more on public swimming pools, and I think it may be necessary for this Council to ask itself whether the need for more public swimming pools is not, perhaps, greater than the need for an indoor stadium.

In the course of their speeches both Mr. BERNACCHI and Mr. WATSON made reference to the City Hall. I share their gratification at the considerable and effective use that has been made of its facilities by the general public, and I am happy to add that there is no sign of any slackening in this response after its first year. The modifications to improve the building which Mr. WATSON mentioned have been put forward by the department for consideration.

Both Mr. BERNACCHI and Mr. WATSON drew attention to the need for more space than is at present available in the High Block if the Museum and Art Gallery is to develop adequately. Members will re- call that the possibility of using the former Officers Mess Building in Murray Barracks was raised last year. I am afraid I can add little today to the previous reply given on this matter which, you will recall, was to the effect that the Rating and Valuation Department is to be housed temporarily in this building and it is not known how long they will stay there. We were assured, however, that at the appropriate

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