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ACTING DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES: Mr. Chairman, I am most grateful to Mr. CHEONG-LEEN for his most learned talk on the subject, but unfortunately I am rather more well acquainted with anatomical than engineering terms, but I will gladly forward his remarks to the Commissioner of Police and obtain an answer for him.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: Then would you agree, Mr. Chairman, that it is very difficult for members of this Council to raise questions on traffic, in which the public is very much interested, if the Commissioner of Police is not represented in this Council?
MR. HU: Mr. Chairman, I have the view that we should take the other side of the story; that is to say, that the serious nuisance comes out of the back of the taxis, that is, the black fumes that usually come out of the taxis. Should we not prohibit taxis from using such bad oil? For that really is a nuisance, especially in Garden Road when going up with a lot of the black fumes coming out at the back of taxis. Should we take the other side of the story and prohibit them from using such bad oil? Have we any legislation to prohibit that sort of thing, Mr. Chairman?
MR. FUNG: I presume that Mr. Hu is referring to the diesel engines used by the taxi cabs. Now, I don't know whether you are aware, Mr. Chairman, that in America motor vehicles with diesel engines are equipped with an extended exhaust pipe leading to the roof of the vehicle, the effect of which will, of course, enable the exhausted gases to be less of a health hazard. I don't know whether the Chairman is ready to receive further information so that we can consider whether we may be able to introduce the same method for Hong Kong.
CHAIRMAN: Sir, it is my recollection that this matter of pollution of air by exhaust fumes from buses, taxis and motor cars, was considered at one time by the Select Committee of this Council.
MR. FUNG: I notice from this paper that I was sent from America that practically all the trucks are equipped with a kind of small chimney you could call it an extended exhaust pipe leading to the roof of the vehicle, so that the exhaust gases can be evaporated in a better state without causing any nuisance, I mean practically any kind of vehicle that is used and equipped with diesel engines. It is very interesting and I keep an eye on it, I keep watching, as I think it is the kind of information that is worth investigating.
CHAIRMAN: I should be very glad to pass on your information to the Colonial Secretary and to the Commissioner of Police.
DR. LEE: Without going so far as America, Mr. Chairman, would you be good enough to show Mr. FUNG our garbage vehicles which
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have a sort of pipe which extends out of the back and right around the vehicle?
DR. BELL: As a supplementary on this question, is it not a fact that these diesel engines only emit diesel fumes when they are badly serviced? And following upon that, is it not a fact that the Police ought to take action to prohibit vehicles which belch forth these fumes, being allowed on the roads and the highways in the condition that they are in and, if that is so, if both these questions are so, why are the Police not taking action?
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: Could it be, Mr. Chairman, because he is not a member of this Council? (Laughter)
CHAIRMAN: I regret, Dr. BELL, that I cannot answer your question. I will certainly make your point to the Commissioner of Police.
MR. SALES: Sir, now that the representative of the Civic Association has, at long last, supported the campaign made by the Appointed Members for the Commissioner of Police to be a Member of this Council, could you make representations to the two Members of Parliament in the same way that the Civic Association appears to have done, so that the Commissioner may be made a member at an early date? (Laughter) At one time, I believe, the Elected Members offered to make representations direct to London; this is one occasion when they should be encouraged to do so. (Laughter)
MR. HU: I think my question has still not been answered, that is, to deal with the black fumes or smoke coming out of the tail of the taxis.
CHAIRMAN: I believe, Sir, that there is legislation. I will have to check up and let you know.
MR. HU: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
(3) DR. A. M. S. BELL asked the following question:
Golf in Hong Kong is restricted to members of exclusive golf clubs. In Scotland there are municipal golf courses where any one can play and children, (under 18 years of age), can play for 9d. (HK60 cents) per round. Can the Chairman refer this matter to the Urban Amenities Select Committee for consideration of places in the Colony where municipal golf courses can be provided? Also spaces for chipping and putting greens or driving ranges?
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Page 157 of 382
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
ACTING DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES: Mr. Chairman, I am most grateful to Mr. CHEONG-LEEN for his most learned talk on the subject, but unfortunately I am rather more well acquainted with anatomical than engineering terms, but I will gladly forward his remarks to the Commissioner of Police and obtain an answer for him.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: -Then would you agree Mr. Chairman, that it is very difficult for members of this Council to raise questions on traffic, in which the public is very much interested, if the Commissioner of Police is not represented in this Council?
MR. HU: Mr. Chairman, I have the view that we should take the other side of the story; that is to say, that the serious nuisance comes out of the back of the taxis, that is, the black fumes that usually come out of the taxis. Should we not prohibit taxis from using such bad oil? For that really is a nuisance, especially in Garden Road when going up with a lot of the black fumes coming out at the back of taxis. Should we take the other side of the story and prohibit them from using such bad oil? Have we any legislation to prohibit that sort of thing, Mr. Chairman?
MR. FUNG: I presume that Mr. Hu is referring to the diesel engines used by the taxi cabs. Now, I don't know whether you are aware, Mr. Chairman, that in America motor vehicles with diesel engines are equipped with an extended exhaust pipe leading to the roof of the vehicle, the effect of which will, of course, enable the exhausted gases to be less of a health hazard. I don't know whether the Chairman is ready to receive further information so that we can consider whether we may be able to introduce the same method for Hong Kong.
CHAIRMAN:-Sir, it is my recollection that this matter of pollution of air by exhaust fumes from buses, taxis and motor cars, was con- sidered at one time by the Select Committee of this Council.
MR. FUNG:--I notice from this paper that I was sent from America that practically all the trucks are equipped with a kind of small chimney you could call it an extended exhaust pipe leading to the roof of the vehicle, so that the exhaust gases can be evaporated in a better state without causing any nuisance,-I mean practically any kind of vehicle that is used and equipped with diesel engines. It is very interesting and I keep an eye on it,-I keep watching, as I think it is the kind of information that is worth investigating.
CHAIRMAN:-I should be very glad to pass on your information to the Colonial Secretary and to the Commissioner of Police.
DR. LEE:-Without going so far as America, Mr. Chairman, would you be good enough to show Mr. FUNG our garbage vehicles which
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
293
have a sort of pipe which extends out of the back and right around the vehicle?
DR. BELL:---As a supplementary on this question, is it not a fact that these diesel engines only emit diesel fumes when they are badly serviced? And following upon that, is it not a fact that the Police ought to take action to prohibit vehicles which belch forth these fumes, being allowed on the roads and the highways in the condition that they are in and, if that is so, if both these questions are so, why are the Police not taking action?
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Could it be Mr. Chairman, because he is not a member of this Council? (Laughter)
CHAIRMAN: -I regret, Dr. BELL, that I cannot answer your question. I will certainly make your point to the Commissioner of Police.
Mr. SALES: -Sir, now that the representative of the Civic Associa- tion has, at long last, supported the campaign made by the Appointed Members for the Commissioner of Police to be a Member of this Council, could you make representations to the two Members of Parlia- ment in the same way that the Civic Association appears to have done, so that the Commissioner may be made a member at an early date? (Laughter) At one time, I believe, the Elected Members offered to make representations direct to London; this is one occasion when they should be encouraged to do so. (Laughter)
MR. HU:-I think my question has still not been answered, that is, to deal with the black fumes or smoke coming out of the tail of the taxis.
CHAIRMAN: -I believe, Sir, that there is legislation. I will have to check up and let you know.
MR. HU: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
(3) DR. A. M. S. BELL asked the following question:-
Golf in Hong Kong is restricted to members of exclusive golf clubs. In Scotland there are municipal golf courses where any one can play and children, (under 18 years of age), can play for 9d. (HK60 cents) per round. Can the Chairman refer this matter to the Urban Amenities Select Committee for consideration of places in the Colony where municipal golf courses can be provided? Also spaces for chipping and putting greens or driving ranges?
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