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DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS:-To the best of my knowledge that is not yet the case. This is part and parcel of the same area. If we can get the alienation then it should make quite a useful area. I should mention here that it is part of our general inquiry into this whole area on account of the Chatham Road widening, but we hope to be able to get something from this. Whether it will prove possible we do not know, but I hope that by playing about with the allocations of land, we should be able to satisfy everyone and get the Chatham Road widening through as well.
MR. SALES :-Do I understand that my colleague the Director of Public Works is virtually inviting me to ask supplementary questions about Chatham Road? (Laughter).
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS:-That is not the case. (Laughter).
MR. SALES: Do I understand, Mr. Chairman, that he has whispered all these remarks about Chatham Road widening? I would be delighted to ask questions on that subject.
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS: -I do not see that at all, Mr. Chairman. However, if questions are asked in regard to Chatham Road, I will do my best to answer them but I am afraid I cannot help very much at the present moment.
MR. SALES:-Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I am satisfied.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-If you would pardon my ignorance, Mr. Chairman, may I ask what is the Radio Sonde Station referred to in the third paragraph of the reply?
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS:-The Radio Sonde Station is part and parcel of a station, I think, for the Royal Observatory for weather forecasting. Whether it has also something to do with the Airport I am not sure.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Purely by way of general information, Mr. Chairman, may I ask the Director of Public Works, through you, whether in considering the desirability of recommending allocation of additional space in King's Park to the Urban Council, the Financial Secretary has veto power? (Laughter).
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS:-I do not know how this question comes under Standing Orders-whether it is an expression of opinion. But if an expression of opinion is permitted, I do not think the Financial Secretary has the power of veto. These things are considered normally on a very broad basis and the financial view is only one part of many other views.
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MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-In this case, I assume, Mr. Chairman, that the Director of Public Works is very favourably inclined towards Mr. SALES' proposals?
MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, may I say categorically that he has always been favourably inclined to all my requests for open space.
(6) MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:
(a) Can the Deputy Director of Medical and Health Services state to what extent and degree do smoke nuisances emanating from buses, trucks and taxis constitute a public health hazard?
(b) Can the Chairman state to what extent this Council is concerned with smoke nuisances emanating from buses, trucks and taxis? Are there any steps that the Council can take to abate such nuisances?
THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES replied as follows:
On the first part of the question, it is difficult to give a precise answer as to the extent and degree of the health hazards which may be directly due to the emanation of smoke from the vehicles mentioned, as there are many other sources of man-made air pollution in a city of this size which can contribute substantially to them. There is, however, no doubt that exhaust fumes emitted from motor vehicles contain a number of toxic gases which, in high concentration, are injurious to health, besides being, in lower concentration, obnoxious and irritating to the eyes and the respiratory passages, particularly in hypersensitive individuals.
Normally, exhaust fumes are rapidly diluted with the outside air and dissipated by air currents. Except in confined spaces they are unlikely to build up into dangerous concentrations. Effects will therefore depend on traffic densities and prevailing atmospheric conditions and are of course more noticeable in congested city streets with air stagnation than in the open countryside.
All in all, the overall effects on health in Hong Kong at present may be said to be negligible, but, in view of the increasing volume of motor traffic and future effects over prolonged periods, the emission of toxic gases by petrol
Page 107 of 312
Page 107 of 312
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS:-To the best of my knowledge that If is not yet the case. This is part and parcel of the same area. we can get the alienation then it should make quite a useful area. I should mention here that it is part of our general inquiry into this whole area on account of the Chatham Road widening, but we hope to be able to get something from this. Whether it will prove possible we do not know, but I hope that by playing about with the alloca- tions of land, we should be able to satisfy everyone and get the Chatham Road widening through as well.
MR. SALES :-Do I understand that my colleague the Director of Public Works is virtually inviting me to ask supplementary questions about Chatham Road? (Laughter).
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS:-That is not the case. (Laughter).
MR. SALES: Do I understand, Mr. Chairman, that he has whis- pered all these remarks about Chatham Road widening? I would be delighted to ask questions on that subject.
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS: -I do not see that at all, Mr. Chairman. However, if questions are asked in regard to Chatham Road, I will do my best to answer them but I am afraid I cannot help very much at the present moment.
MR. SALES:-Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I am satisfied.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-If you would pardon my ignorance, Mr. Chairman, may I ask what is the Radio Sonde Station referred to in the third paragraph of the reply?
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS:-The Radio Sonde Station is part and parcel of a station, I think, for the Royal Observatory for weather forecasting. Whether it has also something to do with the Airport I am not sure.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Purely by way of general information, Mr. Chairman, may I ask the Director of Public Works, through you, whether in considering the desirability of recommending allocation of additional space in King's Park to the Urban Council, the Financial Secretary has veto power? (Laughter).
or not.
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS:-I do not know how this question comes under Standing Orders-whether it is an expression of opinion But if an expression of opinion is permitted, I do not think the Financial Secretary has the power of veto. These things are con- sidered normally on a very broad basis and the financial view is only one part of many other views.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
191
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-In this case, I assume, Mr. Chairman, that the Director of Public Works is very favourably inclined towards Mr. SALES' proposals?
MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, may I say categorically that he has always been favourably inclined to all my requests for open space.
(6) MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:
(a) Can the Deputy Director of Medical and Health Services state to what extent and degree do smoke nuisances emanating from buses, trucks and taxis constitute a public health hazard?
(b) Can the Chairman state to what extent this Council is concerned with smoke nuisances emanating from buses, trucks and taxis? Are there any steps that the Council can take to abate such nuisances?
THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES replied as follows:
On the first part of the question, it is difficult to give a precise answer as to the extent and degree of the health hazards which may be directly due to the emanation of smoke from the vehicles mentioned, as there are many other sources of man-made air pollution in a city of this size which can contribute substantially to them. There is, however, no doubt that exhaust fumes emitted from motor vehicles contain a number of toxic gases which, in high concentration, are injurious to health, besides being, in lower concentration, obnoxious and irritating to the eyes and the respiratory passages, particularly in hypersensi- tive individuals.
Normally, exhaust fumes are rapidly diluted with the outside air and dissipated by air currents. Except in confined spaces they are unlikely to build up into dangerous con- centrations. Effects will therefore depend on traffic den- sities and prevailing atmospheric conditions and are of course more noticeable in congested city streets with air stagnation than in the open countryside.
All in all, the overall effects on health in Hong Kong at present may be said to be negligible, but, in view of the increasing volume of motor traffic and future effects over prolonged periods, the emission of toxic gases by petrol
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