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please inquire from the Advisory Committee on Public Transport to what extent has the public transportation situation improved or deteriorated for residents living in this neighbourhood since April this year?
THE COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT replied as follows:-
A new bus route from Wang Tau Hom to Hung Hom was started on 1st December but it is too early to say how much traffic this has drawn off from the Wong Tai Sin services. This new route operates from 6 a.m. to 11.46 p.m. at a frequency of 6 minutes except for two half-hour periods when the frequency drops to 8 minutes. During 1965, buses will be available for three new routes from Tsz Wan Shan, at present intended to be 7-minute services, to Hung Hom, Jordan Road and So Uk.
The Advisory Committee on Public Transport is setting up a programme for more detailed regular reviews of these services. Its Chairman has said that he would be most grateful for the assistance of the Resettlement Management Select Committee in keeping these services under review and in formulating advice on the allocation of additional buses and the inauguration of new bus routes.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- In regard to the second paragraph, Mr. Chairman, does the Commissioner have information as to what part of 1965 these additional services will be made available?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:- No, Sir, I am afraid I have not, although I understand that there are a number of buses already in the Colony, the bodies of which are now being fitted. I presume that there will be new services when these new buses are ready.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- Could this point be taken up, Mr. Chairman, with the Advisory Committee on Public Transport, and eventually refer it to the Management Select Committee?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:- Certainly, Sir.
MRS. ELLIOTT:- Mr. Chairman, may I ask the Commissioner if he will also keep in mind that the residents of the Lo Fu Ngam Estate and the Wang Tau Hom Estate do not seem to be able to go to Hong Kong because they have no service to the Star Ferry? In fact, the Lo Fu Ngam people are only allowed to go to Kwun Tong.
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:- Certainly I will bear that in mind, but I have the impression that there are services from there to the Jordan Road Ferry. Does Mrs. Elliott have Wong Tai Sin in mind?
MRS. ELLIOTT:- Yes, Wong Tai Sin is a case in point, but Lo Fu Ngam is a very big estate and the Wong Tai Sin people already have sufficient bus services there.
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:- I would be very glad to take that up, along with a number of other relevant matters, with the Advisory Committee on Public Transport.
MRS. ELLIOTT:- Many of the teachers in that area have to depend upon the Pak Pai bus because there is no bus service.
(12) MR. B. A. BERNACCHI asked the following question:
Is it true that the number of librarians at present on the staff of the City Hall is 50% below establishment and that the existing librarians are constantly asked to do 2 jobs? If so, can the librarians be paid a percentage more on an acting basis, whilst they are doing more than their normal duties? What steps are being taken to engage the full complement of librarians?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:-
In reply to the first part of the question, it is true that the number of qualified library staff employed in the City Hall Library will shortly be 50% of the approved establishment, due to a number of recent resignations, some of which have not yet come into effect.
As a result of the shortage of qualified staff, those who remain are now being, and will increasingly be, called upon to undertake responsibility for supervision that is more widely spread than would be normal. Inevitably, the behind-the-scenes preparation of books is having to be delayed, but every effort is being made by the staff to keep this work moving, even if at a reduced tempo. In brief, during this period of staff shortage the professional staff are being asked to undertake more responsibility in breadth, but they cannot maintain the same output of prepared books as would be achieved with the full complement of staff.
The second part of the question asks whether payment for additional work can be made. The answer is 'Yes'. Steps are already being taken to obtain special allowances for the staff concerned.
The third part of the question asks what steps are being taken to engage the full complement of professional staff. The
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please inquire from the Advisory Committee on Public Transport to what extent has the public transportation situation improved or deteriorated for residents living in this neighbourhood since April this year?
THE COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT replied as follows:-
A new bus route from Wang Tau Hom to Hung Hom was started on 1st December but it is too early to say how much traffic this has drawn off from the Wong Tai Sin services. This new route operates from 6 a.m. to 11.46 p.m. at a frequency of 6 minutes except for two half- hour periods when the frequency drops to 8 minutes. During 1965, buses will be available for three new routes from Tsz Wan Shan, at present intended to be 7 minute services, to Hung Hom, Jordan Road and So Uk.
The Advisory Committee on Public Transport is setting up a programme for more detailed regular reviews of these services. Its Chairman has said that he would be most grateful for the assistance of the Resettlement Manage- ment Select Committee in keeping these services under review and in formulating advice on the allocation of additional buses and the inauguration of new bus routes.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-In regard to the second paragraph, Mr. Chair- man, does the Commissioner have information as to what part of 1965 these additional services will be made available?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT: ----No, Sir, I am afraid I have not, although I understand that there are a number of buses already in the Colony, the bodies of which are now being fitted. I presume that there will be new services when these new buses are ready.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Could this point be taken up, Mr. Chairman, with the Advisory Committee on Public Transport, and eventually refer it to the Management Select Committee?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-Certainly, Sir.
MRS. ELLIOTT:-Mr. Chairman, may I ask the Commissioner if he will also keep in mind that the residents of the Lo Fu Ngam Estate and the Wang Tau Hom Estate do not seem to be able to go to Hong Kong because they have no service to the Star Ferry? In fact, the Lo Fu Ngam people are only allowed to go to Kwun Tong.
COMMISSIONER for ResettlemENT:-Certainly I will bear that in mind, but I have the impression that there are services from there to the Jordan Road Ferry. Does Mrs. Elliott have Wong Tai Sin in mind?
MRS. ELLIOTT:-Yes, Wong Tai Sin is a case in point, but Lo Fu Ngam is a very big estate and the Wong Tai Sin people already have sufficient bus services there.
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-I would be very glad to take that up, along with a number of other relevant matters, with the Advisory Committee on Public Transport.
MRS. ELLIOTT:-Many of the teachers in that area have to depend upon the Pak Pais because there is no bus service.
(12) MR. B. A. BERNACCHI asked the following question:
Is it true that the number of librarians at present on the staff of the City Hall is 50% below establishment and that the existing librarians are constantly asked to do 2 jobs? If so, can the librarians be paid a percentage more on acting basis, whilst they are doing more than their normal duties? What steps are being taken to engage the full complement of librarians?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:-
In reply to the first part of the question, it is true that the number of qualified library staff employed in the City Hall Library will shortly be 50% of the approved establish- ment, due to a number of recent resignations, some of which have not yet come into effect.
As a result of the shortage of qualified staff, those who remain are now being, and will increasingly be, called upon to undertake responsibility for supervision that is more wide- ly spread than would be normal. Inevitably, the behind- the-scenes preparation of books is having to be delayed, but every effort is being made by the staff to keep this work moving, even if at a reduced tempo. In brief, during this period of staff shortage the professional staff are being asked to undertake more responsibility in breadth, but they cannot maintain the same output of prepared books as would be achieved with the full comple- ment of staff.
The second part of the question asks whether payment for additional work can be made. The answer is 'Yes'. Steps are already being taken to obtain special allowances for the staff concerned.
The third part of the question asks what steps are being taken to engage the full complement of professional staff. The
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