1963 — Page 71

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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:—

I understand that due to the water shortage quite a number of restaurants are using well water brought in by truck from the New Territories; will the Chairman please state what is being done to ensure that such water is being hygienically used and does not constitute a health hazard for patrons of restaurants licensed by this Council?

THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES replied as follows:-

My reply to Mr. K. S. Lo just now also covers this question, and I would add that no precautions have been taken in regard to water from New Territories wells additional to those which have been taken for all water supplies of doubtful origin.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- May I ask, Mr. Chairman, whether water from the New Territories, particularly Sha Tin, could be considered as being supply from a source of doubtful origin?

DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES: - Mr. Chairman, if it is mains water it is safe, but if it is water from wells or streams it is water which can be considered as of doubtful origin.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- Then is it considered desirable, in view of the fact that Hong Kong is now a cholera infected area, for inspections to be made of the vehicles which are carrying water from Sha Tin to the urban areas?

DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES: vehicles do you mean, Mr. CHEONG-LEEN?

Which

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- I understand that some of these vehicles are privately owned. They are normally used for carrying oil or gasoline, and in fact there was a picture in the press the other day showing what appeared to be a gasoline vehicle which seemed to be taking water from the New Territories to Hong Kong.

DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES:- I shall look into this question of the safety of the water being carried on these vehicles.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- Thank you very much.

MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:—

Will the Chairman please inquire from Government how many multi-storey car parks it is proposed to hand over

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to the Urban Council for management on Hong Kong island and in Kowloon, and in which districts, during the five-year period 1963-67?

THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:

There are at present four items in the Public Works Programme for multi-storey car parks. One of these buildings is now under construction at Middle Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, and will be completed next year. The other three are in Category C of the Public Works Programme, the locations being Canton Road, Yau Ma Tei, and Causeway Bay. Up-grading from their present category, that is, "considered desirable but requiring further consideration in detail" is a matter for the Public Works Sub-Committee of Finance Committee, and I am unable to say whether or not any of them will be completed during the period 1963-67.

The management of any parking building by the Urban Council is subject to the Governor's making an Order in each case under the Road Traffic (Parking and Waiting) Regulations, 1958.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- Mr. Chairman, may I ask, through you, from the Honourable Director of Public Works, since he has given very straightforward and satisfactory replies previously, what are the possibilities of the car parks which are listed in Category C being completed in the 1963-67 period?

DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS:- I think, Mr. Chairman, I can only say, if one of those car parks is upgraded to Category B in the next six months of this financial year, then there is every possibility of that project being completed in the period, but it is completely outside my control as to whether or not it will be upgraded.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- I personally do think it is highly desirable, Mr. Chairman, but since that is outside the sphere of this Council, I can only ask you to be good enough to convey my sentiments to the Sub-Committee concerned. Could I also ask whether there is any truth in the report that there will be other multi-storey car parks, which will be built by private enterprise with the support of Government?

CHAIRMAN: I am sorry, Sir. I have given all the information on this subject which is available to me. I do not know the answer to your question.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- Perhaps the Director of Public Works could elaborate on that.

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