HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Both Mr. SALES and Mr. CHEUNG Wing-in stressed the need for action on the subject of control of advertisements. Although there has been considerable delay in introducing revised legislation concerning advertisements, due in part to the complexity of the subject and the need to deal with more pressing problems, the Department has been working on this question and a draft paper with proposals for revised by-laws has now been prepared. This will be referred to the Urban Amenities Select Committee early next month.
Turning to the more obviously cultural aspect of our work, Mr. BERNACCHI rightly described the City Hall as "doing fine". Usage of all its various facilities has been close to maximum level, the major units such as the Concert Hall, the Theatre, the Exhibition Hall and the Ballroom being well booked for several months in advance. Mr. WATSON referred to the inadequacy of accommodation for the City Hall Museum and Art Gallery. I am happy to say that the relief from the present overcrowding which he mentioned will amount to a 40% increase in display area and working accommodation. This arises from a proposal to re-deploy accommodation in the High Block of the City Hall on return of the 2nd floor by the Commerce and Industry Department next year. This re-deployment has been discussed and approved by the three Select Committees concerned and planning to this end will proceed. With regard to a more extensive Museum and Art Gallery for Hong Kong, the detailed report being compiled by the Museum and Art Gallery Select Committee will be submitted to Government for consideration in due course.
Dr. LEE urged that more branch libraries be provided as a positive step in tackling problems concerning juveniles. The first branch library will be in Waterloo Road, Kowloon, and it is planned to open it in 1965. Dr. LEE also deplored the fact that there was at present a serious shortage of senior professional staff in the Library which has resulted in a temporary curtailment of opening hours. It is indeed unfortunate that a number of resignations of senior professional officers occurred before discussion on the revision of conditions of service had been completed and to some extent this delayed the advertisements for the replacements. But action to recruit a Library Adviser and Assistant Librarians is now in hand, as I have already explained in answer to a question at this meeting.*
Mr. Li Yiu-bor remarked upon the position of unregistered boarding houses in relation to juvenile delinquency and urged that they should be abolished or that legislation should be introduced to bring them under strict control. Powers exist under Part VII of the Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance for the Urban Council to make regulations in regard to boarding houses, but as most Members are, I think, aware, when the question was last discussed in the Standing Committee of the Whole Council on 7th March, 1961, it was agreed, for various reasons, not to proceed with the matter at that time. In view of Mr. Li's concern I propose to re-open the matter and a memorandum is being prepared for consideration at the meeting of the Standing Committee of the Whole Council next month.
Several references were made by Members to the question of the remuneration of labourers in the Urban Services Department. The minor staff on Model Salary Scale 1 received an increase in basic salary of 12% from 1st April, 1963 and a further increase of 15% from 1st December, 1964. The salary for a male officer, including Cost of Living Allowance, when the Retail Price Index is 131 to 135, now ranges from $243 to $425 a month. As Members are aware, the 1965 Salaries Commission hopes to start work next March. The terms of reference of the Commission provide that it should consider the general level of salaries and the major fringe benefits of the main groups of employees in the public service.
On the subject of markets, on which Mr. Wilfred WONG spoke eloquently and at length, I was impressed by the fact that Members' speeches showed both diversity of viewpoint and lack of unanimity on the policy to be pursued. The position of the Department, which was again questioned on this subject, is clear. On the one hand, it has views to express, as on other subjects, deriving from the experience of its officers, and it would be failing in its duty if it did not make these views known to Council Members. On the other hand, when the Council decides upon its future policy, the Department, regardless of whatever views it may have expressed, will support and carry out that policy to the best of its ability. Mr. WONG has said that he proposes, in due course, to table a motion in this Council on the market programme. I would welcome this step.
I now turn to what has been our most troublesome problem during this year—the cleansing services. I am well aware of our present deficiencies but I believe that the structure of the service built up over the years is fundamentally sound. In some respects it has now begun to fall behind the demand resulting from our rapidly rising population, the high rate of re-development and the increasing prosperity which is reflected in the steadily growing quantities of discarded refuse.
I referred, in this Council earlier this year, to the primary causes of our troubles, which lie in labour shortages and transport difficulties. By the recent increase in wages for lower paid employees it is hoped to arrest the drain on the labour force, even if it is not possible to restore it to full strength. Funds have been requested to enable the Department to order immediately a further 40 vehicles including 29 refuse collection vehicles and 11 lorries as well as 21 trailers. The approximate cost of these vehicles is over $2 million and they will represent a 27% increase in the refuse collection vehicle fleet by the end of next year.
Page 261
* Page 471.
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Page 260 of 312
494
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Both Mr. SALES and Mr. CHEUNG Wing-in stressed the need for action on the subject of control of advertisements. Although there has been considerable delay in introducing revised legislation concern- ing advertisements, due in part to the complexity of the subject and the need to deal with more pressing problems, the Department has been working on this question and a draft paper with proposals for revised by-laws has now been prepared. This will be referred to the Urban Amenities Select Committee early next month.
Turning to the more obviously cultural aspect of our work, Mr. BERNACCHI rightly described the City Hall as "doing fine". Usage of all its various facilities has been close to maximum level, the major units such as the Concert Hall, the Theatre, the Exhibition Hall and the Ballroom being well booked for several months in advance. Mr. WATSON referred to the inadequacy of accommodation for the City Hall Museum and Art Gallery. I am happy to say that the relief from the present overcrowding which he mentioned will amount to a 40% increase in display area and working accommodation. This arises from a proposal to re-deploy accommodation in the High Block of the City Hall on return of the 2nd floor by the Commerce and Industry Depart- ment next year. This re-deployment has been discussed and approved by the three Select Committee concerned and planning to this end will proceed. With regard to a more extensive Museum and Art Gallery for Hong Kong, the detailed report being compiled by the Museum and Art Gallery Select Committee will be submitted to Government for consideration in due course.
Dr. LEE urged that more branch libraries be provided as a positive step in tackling problems concerning juveniles. The first branch library will be in Waterloo Road, Kowloon, and it is planned to open it in 1965. Dr. LEE also deplored the fact that there was at present a serious shortage of senior professional staff in the Library which has resulted in a temporary curtailment of opening hours. It is indeed unfortunate that a number of resignations of senior professional officers occurred before discussion on the revision of conditions of service had been completed and to some extent this delayed the advertisements for the replacements. But action to recruit a Library Adviser and Assistant Librarians is now in hand, as I have already explained in answer to a question at this meeting.*
Mr. Li Yiu-bor remarked upon the position of unregistered boarding houses in relation to juvenile delinquency and urged that they should be abolished or that legislation should be introduced to bring them under strict control. Powers exist under Part VII of the Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance for the Urban Council to make regulations in regard to boarding houses, but as most Members are, I think, aware, when the question was last discussed in the Standing
* Page 471.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
495
Committee of the Whole Council on 7th March, 1961, it was agreed, for various reasons, not to proceed with the matter at that time. In view of Mr. Li's concern I propose to re-open the matter and a memorandum is being prepared for consideration at the meeting of the Standing Committee of the Whole Council next month.
Several references were made by Members to the question of the the remuneration of labourers in the Urban Services Department. The minor staff on Model Salary Scale 1 received an increase in basic salary of 12% from 1st April, 1963 and a further increase of 15% from 1st December, 1964. The salary for a male officer, including Cost of Living Allowance, when the Retail Price Index is 131 to 135, now ranges from $243 to $425 a month. As Members are aware, the 1965 Salaries Commission hopes to start work next March. The terms of reference of the Commission provide that it should consider the general level of salaries and the major fringe benefits of the main groups of employees in the public service.
On the subject of markets, on which Mr. Wilfred WONG spoke eloquently and at length, I was impressed by the fact that Members' speeches showed both diversity of viewpoint and lack of unanimity on the policy to be pursued. The position of the Department, which was again questioned on this subject, is clear. On the one hand, it has views to express, as on other subjects, deriving from the experience of its officers, and it would be failing in its duty if it did not make these views known to Council Members. On the other hand, when the Council decides upon its future policy, the Department, regardless of whatever views it may have expressed, will support and carry out that policy to the best of its ability. Mr. WONG has said that he proposes, in due course, to table a motion in this Council on the market pro- gramme. I would welcome this step.
I now turn to what has been our most troublesome problem during this year-the cleansing services. I am well aware of our present deficiencies but I believe that the structure of the service built up over the years is fundamentally sound. In some respects it has now begun to fall behind the demand resulting from our rapidly rising population, the high rate of re-development and the increasing prosperity which is reflected in the steadily growing quantities of discarded refuse.
I referred, in this Council earlier this year, to the primary causes of our troubles, which lie in labour shortages and transport difficulties. By the recent increase in wages for lower paid employees it is hoped to arrest the drain on the labour force, even if it is not possible to restore it to full strength. Funds have been requested to enable the Department to order immediately a further 40 vehicles including 29 refuse collection vehicles and 11 lorries as well as 21 trailers. The approximate cost of these vehicles is over $2 million and they will represent a 27% increase in the refuse collection vehicle fleet by the end of next year.
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