1964 — Page 19

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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS: -Mr. Chairman, in regard to that question, I am afraid I cannot give the answer at the moment, but I will undertake to look into it. If our contractors have ruined this area, they will be asked to put it back in the original form.

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

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this scheme for linked traffic signals, they recommended that there should be a fly-over at this junction instead of signals and that that request has unfortunately been ignored?

CHAIRMAN:--No, Sir.

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

Has the Urban Services Department explored the possibility of converting part of the Chatham Road roundabout at Hung Hom into a sitting-out area for the enjoyment of residents in the Hung Hom district?

THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows: —

About six years ago the Urban Services Department explored very fully the possibility of converting these traffic islands into rest gardens, and indeed the public did enjoy access to them for a short time during 1958. In the following year the Traffic Advisory Committee concluded that it was dangerous to permit public access to these islands, especially as there were no subways or footbridges leading to them, and in 1960 the Urban Amenities Select Com- mittee agreed that they should be fenced.

I might add that these islands will soon be removed as part of a scheme for redesigning this important road junction. I am advised by my friend, the Director of Public Works, that the present roundabout has already reached maximum capacity at peak periods, and it is anticipated that with the increased traffic volumes associated with the inauguration of the new vehicular ferry service between Kowloon City and North Point later in the year, conditions will further deteriorate. Improved capacity at the junction is to be achieved by the installation of traffic signals, which will be linked to minimise delays, and removal of the substandard roundabout. The signals are already on order from the United Kingdom and it is hoped to make a start on the project in July of this year. The scheme, which incorporates one small garden plot, was seen early last year by the Urban Council's represen- tative on the Traffic Advisory Committee, Mr. WATSON. It will be explained to the Urban Amenities Select Com- mittee at its next meeting.

MR. WATSON: --Mr. Chairman, may I ask a supplementary? As I was referred to in this answer, I would like to ask you if you are aware that in the Traffic Advisory Committee, when they considered

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

It has been reported in the Press that in recent months residents have complained that the tap water has been found to be unusually salty in certain districts. Has the Director of Public Works received any complaints from members of the public in this regard? If there is any factual basis for these reports, does the Deputy Director of Medical and Health Services consider there is any health risk involved?

THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS replied as follows:-

In the past six months, I have received three written com- plaints from industrial sources and the same number, all of which have been verbal, from members of the general public and the Information Services Department following comments in the Press,

The normal salinity of Hong Kong water is of the order of 20 parts per million but due to the necessity of importing highly saline water from the Pearl River, it has been necessary at times to supply water to consumers of up to about 500 parts per million. Constant checks are made to ensure that a salinity of 600 parts per million is not exceeded.

This figure is within the limits set down by the World Health Organization, and the Director of Medical and Health Services, with whom I am in constant consultation, con- firms that this concentration represents no danger to health.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN: --Mr. Chairman, what are the limits set down by the World Health Organization?

DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES:-Anything over 600 parts per million is regarded as excessive. It is not dangerous to health; there are parts of England which have 1,400 parts per million of salt and no complaints are received. The water has never been up to 600 parts per million yet in Hong Kong and only some people would notice it then. It is perfectly safe and is only tasted by a few people.