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The ideal example of the market is the Central Market where fish and poultry are sold on the ground floor, meat on the first floor, and vegetables and fruits on the second floor. I would like to see such a market in every district. On the other hand, if the public should refuse to walk to the second floor, short of an escalator, and if Government is reluctant to provide escalators for markets, a two-storey market would equally serve the need.
The Markets Select Committee is bogged down in a swamp of doubts. It is my hope that before the end of the year we will get out of the swamp and return to the main road of the positive and construction programme. I feel strongly that the Select Committee would fall short of discharging its responsibilities if it fails to carry out this programme.
MR. SALES:-Mr. Chairman, I suspect there is a many-sided collusion in order to bring this subject into the open at this Council meeting to-day. However, I think that both you and the Chairman of the Markets Select Committee are to be commended by this Council for the very frank replies. I know that the Markets Select Committee is in excellent hands under the capable chairmanship of Mr. WONG. Mr. Chairman, can you assure this Council please that the policy which this Council definitely adopted in respect of markets has not been set aside by your Department or by Government altogether?
CHAIRMAN:-Sir, there can be no question of the Department setting aside the policy laid down by the Council. As regards Government, my impression is that a decision has to be made by Government as to whether they are going to build markets and the decision will be made in the light of the arguments put forward on behalf of the Council.
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, I presume that you and Government are aware that the Markets Select Committee adopted a firm policy in respect of the construction of markets in Hong Kong, that policy having, in turn, been endorsed by the Standing Committee of the Whole Council. Is that not the position?
CHAIRMAN:-It might well be, Sir, but I would like to refresh my mind. Whatever may be the case as regards the Standing Committee, if there has been any hiatus in the construction of markets, it has derived from observations made in the Markets Select Committee itself.
MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, then you are able to assure this Council that the delay in carrying out the Council's policy in respect of markets has not been caused in any way by a desire on the part of Government to save the money that is involved?
CHAIRMAN:-Yes, Sir. I think I can safely say that.
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MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, another supplementary. Can you give this Council an unqualified assurance that the Department is not dragging its feet in respect of this particular market policy that has been adopted by this Council?
CHAIRMAN:-Sir, the activities of the Department are guided in this matter by the Markets Select Committee, and have been, so as far as I know, since the experience which occurred after the opening of the Tang Lung Chau Market.
MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, because some of us who have been connected with the Markets Select Committee feel that the Department is not fully behind this policy, can you please tell this Council whether in fact everything that can possibly be done is being done to implement it?
CHAIRMAN: -Sir, the Department will take such action as it can to implement the policy of the Council in respect of markets.
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, may I thank you for your very frank replies to my supplementary questions.
DR. LEE:-Mr. Chairman, Mr. WONG mentioned in his reply that the use of escalators is ruled out by Government on the grounds of economy. Will you take this up with Government that it is a false economy and that escalators are vital nowadays, especially as we are now living in the space age?
CHAIRMAN: -Yes, Sir.
MR. WONG: Mr. Chairman, on a point of correction, I merely said "if Government is reluctant to provide escalators". Speaking for members of the Markets Select Committee, we would be satisfied with two-storey markets instead of three-storey markets, but if Government is prepared to provide escalators, there is no reason why three-storey markets should not succeed.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, by way of information, could I ask the Director of Public Works, through you, what is the position in regard to the North Point Market which is in Category A?
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS: -Mr. Chairman, Category A means that authority has been given, and money as well, to build the market. If it is delayed, it is due to the fact that we cannot get a decision on what is to be built. That is my understanding of the situation: that it is the Urban Council which is not sure what exactly is required.
MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, on a point of order, that is not the case when the Markets Select Committee determined the policy to be followed. I was a member of that Select Committee and was a party...
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Page 117 of 312
210
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
The ideal example of the market is the Central Market where fish and poultry are sold on the ground floor, meat on the first floor, and vegetables and fruits on the second floor. I would like to see such a market in every district. On the other hand, if the public should refuse to walk to the second floor, short of an escalator, and if Government is reluctant to provide escalators for markets, a two-storey market would equally serve the need.
The Markets Select Committee is bogged down in a swamp of doubts. It is my hope that before the end of the year we will get out of the swamp and return to the main road of the positive and con- struction programme. I feel strongly that the Select Committee would fall short of discharging its responsibilities if it fails to carry out this programme.
MR. SALES-Mr. Chairman, I suspect there is a many-sided collusion in order to bring this subject into the open at this Council meeting to-day. However, I think that both you and the Chairman of the Markets Select Committee are to be commended by this Council for the very frank replies. I know that the Markets Select Committee is in excellent hands under the capable chairmanship of Mr. WONG. Mr. Chairman, can you assure this Council please that the policy which this Council definitely adopted in respect of markets has not been set aside by your Department or by Government altogether?
CHAIRMAN:-Sir, there can be no question of the Department setting aside the policy laid down by the Council. As regards Govern- ment, my impression is that a decision has to be made by Government as to whether they are going to build markets and the decision will be made in the light of the arguments put forward on behalf of the Council.
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, I presume that you and Government are aware that the Markets Select Committee adopted a firm policy in respect of the construction of markets in Hong Kong, that policy having, in turn, been endorsed by the Standing Committee of the Whole Council. Is that not the position?
CHAIRMAN:-It might well be, Sir, but I would like to refresh my mind. Whatever may be the case as regards the Standing Committee, if there has been any hiatus in the construction of markets, it has derived from observations made in the Markets Select Committee itself.
MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, then you are able to assure this Council that the delay in carrying out the Council's policy in respect of markets has not been caused in any way by a desire on the part of Government to save the money that is involved?
CHAIRMAN:-Yes, Sir. I think I can safely say that.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
211
MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, another supplementary. Can you give this Council an unqualified assurance that the Department is not dragging its feet in respect of this particular market policy that has been adopted by this Council?
CHAIRMAN:-Sir, the activities of the Department are guided in this matter by the Markets Select Committee, and have been, so as far as I know, since the experience which occurred after the opening of the Tang Lung Chau Market.
MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, because some of us who have been connected with the Markets Select Committee feel that the Department is not fully behind this policy, can you please tell this Council whether in fact everything that can possibly be done is being done to implement it?
CHAIRMAN: -Sir, the Department will take such action as it can to implement the policy of the Council in respect of markets.
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, may I thank you for your very frank replies to my supplementary questions.
DR. LEE:-Mr. Chairman, Mr. WONG mentioned in his reply that the use of escalators is ruled out by Government on the grounds of economy. Will you take this up with Government that it is a false economy and that escalators are vital nowadays, especially as we are now living in the space age?
CHAIRMAN: -Yes, Sir.
MR. WONG: Mr. Chairman, on a point of correction, I merely said "if Government is reluctant to provide escalators". Speaking for members of the Markets Select Committee, we would be satisfied with two-storey markets instead of three-storey markets, but if Government is prepared to provide escalators, there is no reason why three-storey markets should not succeed.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, by way of information, could I ask the Director of Public Works, through you, what is the position in regard to the North Point Market which is in Category A?
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS: -Mr. Chairman, Category A means that authority has been given, and money as well, to build the market. If it is delayed, it is due to the fact that we cannot get a decision on what is to be built. That is my understanding of the situation: that it is the Urban Council which is not sure what exactly is required.
MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, on a point of order, that is not the case when the Markets Select Committee determined the policy to be followed. I was a member of that Select Committee and was a party
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