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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
DR. LEE-Mr. Chairman, when the post of Library Adviser is held by a local man with the same qualifications as an expatriate, can you give this Council any assurance that the pay will remain unchanged?
CHAIRMAN:-Sir, I answered this question at a previous meeting of the Council, as I recollect it, some months ago, but I would point out that you are now raising new matter and I do not feel that I can answer your question without notice. I would add, however, that I think that an assurance was given that if the qualifications were the same the pay would be the same.
DR. LEE:-I do not think that was my impression of the reply, Mr. Chairman, but if you would like to study the matter further, I shall not press the point at this stage. However, in the last part of your reply you anticipate that the temporary Kowloon branch library will be ready for opening in October, but if you refer to the Library Select Committee's report, we were given to understand that it will be opened on 1st August. Even assuming that the library can be opened in October, how many books will be ready for lending to the public?
CHAIRMAN:--Sir, I did not say just now that it was hoped that the library at Cambridge Court would be opened in October. I said that it was hoped that it will be opened for public use in the autumn of this year, as stated in my reply to you at the Council meeting last October. I cannot say, Sir, without notice, how many books it is expected to provide for the opening, but certainly it will be a substantial number.
MR. SALES-Sir, like the beaches the number of books will depend on the typhoons. (Laughter).
(2) MR. WILFRED S. B. WONG asked the following question:
At the meeting of the Standing Committee of the Whole Council on 5th January, 1965 a North Point Market with a modern food-shop arcade and playground on the roof was approved unanimously.
Will the Chairman inform the Council what steps have been taken to implement the Council's decision generally, and particularly, what progress has been made in preparing the rough sketches of the project as promised by the Director of Public Works?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:--
Following the decision of the Standing Committee of the Whole Council on 5th January, 1965 discussions took place
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
13
within the Department in order to ascertain the principal requirements for the building. These requirements were passed to the Government Architect on 11th March, 1965 and rough drawings are now in course of preparation.
MR. WONG:-May I ask a supplementary question?
Is the Chairman aware that it took two months and six days for the Government to pass a resolution of this Council from one department to another?
CHAIRMAN:--No, Sir, I am not aware of it. The matter had to be studied in the Department and as I said, the requirements of the building had to be examined and suggestions made to the Public Works Department.
(3) MR. WILFRED S. B. WONG asked the following question:
With a view to minimizing the injury to feet and toes of swimmers, will the Chairman inform us as to how many man-days are spent in removing sharp rocks and stones at low tides amongst the popular public beaches, before the opening of the Swimming Season on 1st April?
If the cleansing of the beaches has not yet commenced, will the Chairman give assurance that such measures will be taken to protect those who participate in the most popular sport in Hong Kong?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:-
The answer to the first part of the question is that it is estimated that in the five months between the close of the 1964 bathing season on 1st November and the start of the 1965 season on 1st April, 3,326 man-days were spent in removing rocks and stones from urban beaches and 1,292 man-days were spent on the same work at New Territories beaches. About one quarter of this work took place at or near the low-water mark.
The answer to the second part of the question is that a cleansing service is provided at all beaches throughout the year as required, and that we never stop taking such measures.
MR. WONG: Is the Chairman aware that 4,000 man-days plus a mechanized earth-mover were used to clean the beaches of their debris and rocks after typhoon "Mary" alone?
MR. MARDEN:-Mr. Chairman, I presume these man-days have nothing to do with Mandy Rice-Davies. (Laughter).
Page 17 of 382
Page 17 of 382
12
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
DR. LEE-Mr. Chairman, when the post of Library Adviser is held by a local man with the same qualifications as an expatriate, can you give this Council any assurance that the pay will remain un- changed?
CHAIRMAN:-Sir, I answered this question at a previous meeting of the Council, as I recollect it, some months ago, but I would point out that you are now raising new matter and I do not feel that I can answer your question without notice. I would add, however, that I think that an assurance was given that if the qualifications were the same the pay would be the same.
DR. LEE:-I do not think that was my impression of the reply, Mr. Chairman, but if you would like to study the matter further, I shall not press the point at this stage. However, in the last part of your reply you anticipate that the temporary Kowloon branch library will be ready for opening in October, but if you refer to the Library Select Committee's report, we were given to understand that it will be opened on 1st August. Even assuming that the library can be opened in October, how many books will be ready for lending to the public?
CHAIRMAN:--Sir, I did not say just now that it was hoped that the library at Cambridge Court would be opened in October. I said that it was hoped that it will be opened for public use in the autumn of this year, as stated in my reply to you at the Council meeting last October. I cannot say, Sir, without notice, how many books it is expected to provide for the opening, but certainly it will be a substantial number.
MR. SALES-Sir, like the beaches the number of books will depend on the typhoons. (Laughter).
(2) MR. WILFRED S. B. WONG asked the following question:
At the meeting of the Standing Committee of the Whole Council on 5th January, 1965 a North Point Market with a modern food-shop arcade and playground on the roof was approved unanimously.
Will the Chairman inform the Council what steps have been taken to implement the Council's decision generally, and particularly, what progress has been made in preparing the rough sketches of the project as promised by the Director of Public Works?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:--
Following the decision of the Standing Committee of the Whole Council on 5th January, 1965 discussions took place
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
13
within the Department in order to ascertain the principal requirements for the building. These requirements were passed to the Government Architect on 11th March, 1965 and rough drawings are now in course of preparation.
MR. WONG:-May I ask a supplementary question?
Is the Chairman aware that it took two months and six days for the Government to pass a resolution of this Council from one department to another?
CHAIRMAN:--No, Sir, I am not aware of it. The matter had to be studied in the Department and as I said, the requirements of the build- ing had to be examined and suggestions made to the Public Works Department.
(3) MR. WILFRED S. B. WONG asked the following question:
With a view to minimizing the injury to feet and toes of swimmers, will the Chairman inform us as to how many man-days are spent in removing sharp rocks and stones at low tides amongst the popular public beaches, before the opening of the Swimming Season on 1st April?
If the cleansing of the beaches has not yet commenced, will the Chairman give assurance that such measures will be taken to protect those who participate in the most popular sport in Hong Kong?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:-
The answer to the first part of the question is that it is estimated that in the five months between the close of the 1964 bathing season on 1st November and the start of the 1965 season on 1st April, 3,326 man-days were spent in remov- ing rocks and stones from urban beaches and 1,292 man- days were spent on the same work at New Territories beaches. About one quarter of this work took place at or near the low-water mark.
The answer to the second part of the question is that a cleansing service is provided at all beaches throughout the year as required, and that we never stop taking such measures.
MR. WONG: Is the Chairman aware that 4,000 man-days plus a mechanized earth-mover were used to clean the beaches of their debris and rocks after typhoon "Mary" alone?
MR. MARDEN:-Mr. Chairman, I presume these man-days have nothing to do with Mandy Rice-Davies. (Laughter).
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