HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
when the Cheung Sha Wan Reclamation is closed and sealed from the sea. But am I assured by the Commissioner for Resettlement that this sort of people will be given an opportunity to be resettled elsewhere and not encouraged to move into a typhoon shelter?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT: --There is a paper in draft form at present touching on this particular subject of the non-working boat population in Cheung Sha Wan Bay. This will be going to the Policy Select Committee shortly. I should also point out to Mr. FORSGATE that the Director of Marine has certain powers to prohibit boats from taking up anchorage in any particular locality.
MR. FORSGATE: -Thank you.
MR. BERNACCHI: -Could I pursue the point perhaps a little further? Could the District Commissioner be approached with the suggestion that he makes some sites available, especially to timber yards, on small islands? I know for a fact that a very successful timber yard has now been established at Ping Chau.
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT: -I believe that this point was generally put to the District Commissioner and he did make quite a number of sites available in Castle Peak Bay some 12 months ago, and I think the development of those sites is now in hand.
(5) MR. R. H. LOBO asked the following question:-
May I learn from the Chairman if any definite measures have been taken to provide pay-call telephone facilities at parks, playgrounds, swimming pools, tennis courts, popular beaches, rest gardens and all such amenities to avoid the public having to depend on the discretion of Urban Services Department Staff for the use of the only telephones available, which are reserved for official use only.
MR. A. de O. SALES, CHAIRMAN OF THE URBAN AMENITIES SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows:—
Public pay-call telephones, which are installed and maintained by the Telephone Company at its own expense, are already provided at the cafes attached to the Victoria Park and Kowloon Tsai Swimming Pools, and also at all multi-storey car parks. Public pay-call telephones are also available close to a majority of the bathing beaches in the urban area.
The department has no evidence of any large unsatisfied demand for more public pay-call telephones at beaches, parks or playgrounds, possibly because it is often comparatively easy to make free use of telephones installed in shops and cafes. Still, the need to install more such telephones is being examined and I urge you to give the department specific proposals as to possible locations where, in your view, it would meet a public need to have them. The Urban Services Department has its own departmental telephones at many beaches, parks and playgrounds. Where these are the only telephones available, the public will always be permitted to use them for emergency calls and our staff has been instructed accordingly. Of course, where call charges are levied, they have to be paid.
MR. LOBO: -I am glad that this question is being studied because I know there is a demand for such telephones and I will submit to the department certain proposals.
CHAIRMAN: -Thank you.
(6) MR. R. H. LOBO asked the following question:—
Can the Chairman please inform me if septic tanks are under regular checking and maintenance, specially those near the popular beaches and residential areas?
THE ACTING DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES replied as follows:-
Septic tanks in private and Government properties are inspected quarterly by the district health inspectors and, in the case of public latrines, by the cleansing inspectors. Defective tanks in Government properties are reported to the Government Maintenance Surveyor for repair. The Urban Services Department arranges for desludging as and when necessary.
In the case of private tanks, the condition and level of sludge is noted. Where necessary, owners are informed in writing of the need for desludging which is then carried out by the department upon payment of the prescribed charges. If the private tank is otherwise in such a state as to be a nuisance under section 12(1)(b) of the Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance, 1960, a statutory notice will be served on the owner and this action is followed up in accordance with the provisions of section 127 of the Ordinance.
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
when the Cheung Sha Wan Reclamation is closed and sealed from the sea. But am I assured by the Commissioner for Resettlement that this sort of people will be given an opportunity to be resettled else- where and not encouraged to move into a typhoon shelter?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT: --There is a paper in draft form at present touching on this particular subject of the non-working boat population in Cheung Sha Wan Bay. This will be going to the Policy Select Committee shortly. I should also point out to Mr. FORSGATE that the Director of Marine has certain powers to prohibit boats from taking up anchorage in any particular locality.
MR. FORSGATE:-Thank you.
MR. BERNACCHI:-Could I pursue the point perhaps a little further? Could the District Commissioner be approached with the suggestion that he makes some sites available, especially to timber yards, on small islands? I know for a fact that a very successful timber yard has now been established at Ping Chau.
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-I believe that this point was generally put to the District Commissioner and he did make quite a number of sites available in Castle Peak Bay some 12 months ago, and I think the development of those sites is now in hand.
(5) MR. R. H. LOBO asked the following question:-
May I learn from the Chairman if any definite measures have been taken to provide pay-call telephone facilities at parks, playgrounds, swimming pools, tennis courts, popular beaches, rest gardens and all such amenities to avoid the public having to depend on the discretion of Urban Services Department Staff for the use of the only tele- phones available, which are reserved for official use only.
MR. A. de O. SALES, CHAIRMAN OF THE URBAN AMENITIES SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows:—
Public pay-call telephones, which are installed and maintained by the Telephone Company at its own expense, are already provided at the cafes attached to the Victoria Park and Kowloon Tsai Swimming Pools, and also at all multi- storey car parks. Public pay-call telephones are also available close to a majority of the bathing beaches in the urban area.
The department has no evidence of any large unsatisfied demand for more public pay-call telephones at beaches, parks or
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
249
playgrounds, possibly because it is often comparatively easy to make free use of telephones installed in shops and cafes. Still, the need to install more such telephones is being examined and I urge you to give the department specific proposals as to possible locations where, in your view, it would meet a public need to have them. The Urban Services Department has its own departmental tele- phones at many beaches, parks and playgrounds. Where these are the only telephones available, the public will always be permitted to use them for emergency calls and our staff has been instructed accordingly. Of course, where call charges are levied, they have to be paid.
MR. LOBO:-I am glad that this question is being studied because I know there is a demand for such telephones and I will submit to the department certain proposals.
CHAIRMAN:-Thank you.
(6) MR. R. H. LOBO asked the following question:—
Can the Chairman please inform me if septic tanks are under regular checking and maintenance, specially those near the popular beaches and residential areas?
THE ACTING DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES replied as follows:-
Septic tanks in private and Government properties are inspected quarterly by the district health inspectors and, in the case of public latrines, by the cleansing inspectors. Defective tanks in Government properties are reported to the Gov- ernment Maintenance Surveyor for repair. The Urban Services Department arranges for desludging as and when necessary.
In the case of private tanks, the condition and level of sludge is noted. Where necessary, owners are informed in writing of the need for desludging which is then carried out by the department upon payment of the prescribed charges. If the private tank is otherwise in such a state as to be a nuisance under section 12(1)(b) of the Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance, 1960, a statutory notice will be served on the owner and this action is followed up in accordance with the provisions of section 127 of the Ordinance.
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