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complained that, as a result of continual accumulation of earth the stream-course running through the Wai Man Village, Lai Chi Kok is now badly silted up. Can the Chairman take steps to remove this accumulation of earth as soon as possible, since this will be a real danger to the lives and property of the residents as soon as the rainy season commences?
THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS replied as follows:-
An inspection of the stream course at the end of last week showed no signs of any recent accumulation of earth or silt and it has not been affected by the construction of the new road.
2. Generally speaking the buildings are some five feet or more above the stream bed, but just before the junction of the stream course and the Kom Tsun Street nullah some huts have been erected near the edge of the stream bed and these could be affected during periods of heavy rainfall coinciding with high tides.
3. Investigation is being made into the possibility of serious flooding, and the remedial measures to be taken if such should be necessary.
MR. K. S. Lo asked the following question:-
With reference to play equipment for playgrounds under the jurisdiction of this Council, in view of the protracted delays by overseas suppliers, will you, Sir, give this Council your categorical assurance that future requirements of this nature will be purchased locally?
MR. A. de O. Sales, CHAIRMAN OF THE URBAN AMENITIES SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows:-
From the date on which the Urban Services Department initiates action, it has taken an average of about 7 months for children's playground equipment to arrive in Hong Kong from Britain. About one half of this time is taken up by ordering procedures, the calling of tenders and shipment by sea. In two recent cases, the delivery time has been 12 and 14 months respectively, but these are exceptions.
This matter was discussed by the Urban Amenities Select Committee at its meeting on 17th December, 1965, when it was agreed that the Department should look into the feasibility of obtaining children's playground equipment locally. I can assure you, Sir, that it is intended in future to purchase equipment locally in all cases where it would be advantageous to do so. But in the case of the more complicated items, especially those with moving parts, much will depend on the ability of Hong Kong manufacturers to meet the stringent specifications which the Department must lay down in the interests of safety.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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feasibility of obtaining children's playground equipment locally. I can assure you, Sir, that it is intended in future to purchase equipment locally in all cases where it would be advantageous to do so. But in the case of the more complicated items, especially those with moving parts, much will depend on the ability of Hong Kong manufacturers to meet the stringent specifications which the Department must lay down in the interests of safety.
MR. Lo:- Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask some more supplementaries. Has any attempt been made in the past by your department in trying to obtain local tenders for the equipment?
MR. SALES: Sir, the Urban Amenities Select Committee has been for a long time very insistent on this point, that as much as possible the equipment should be made locally. However the department has still to conform to Government procedure in this matter and there is also the question of patent rights on certain types of equipment that we would like to use in Hong Kong; but we have as far as I know started in some places to have our own equipment. In fact, a case in point, which I see virtually every day is the playground along Chatham Road, and I believe also that the Hong Kong Housing Authority has local equipment in its playgrounds.
MR. Lo:- Sir, I want to thank the Chairman of the Urban Amenities Select Committee through you, for his answer, but if attempts have been made to obtain this equipment locally, I am sure you will find that not only the time of delivery will be cut down considerably but there will also be some considerable saving in cost. My second question is, is there anyone in your department who is capable of designing such equipment if it is to be ordered and made locally.
CHAIRMAN:- I don't think there is anybody in the Department capable of designing such equipment, but there may well be people who understand about equipment and would give ideas on the subject. I must in amplification of what Mr. SALES said, point out that some of the playground equipment is slightly complicated and I just don't think it is made in Hong Kong at the present time at all, and it might take some time to arrange for it to be made.
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, may I add that Mr. Lo can rest assured that what he wants to achieve is in fact identical with the purpose of the Select Committee. We have been hard put to convince the Department that it can be done in Hong Kong. I believe the Department now agrees with us that it should be done in Hong Kong. It is now a question of pursuing the matter vigorously, although experience of 12 to 14 months' delay of two deliveries has brought out the need far more vividly than before. As a matter of fact some playgrounds are just waiting for the equipment
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Page 300 of 382
578
(12)
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
complained that, as a result of continual accumulation of earth the stream-course running through the Wai Man Village, Lai Chi Kok is now badly silted up. Can the Chairman take steps to remove this accumulation of earth as soon as possible, since this will be a real danger to the lives and property of the residents as soon as the rainy season commences?
THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS replied as follows:-
An inspection of the stream course at the end of last week showed no signs of any recent accumulation of earth or silt and it has not been affected by the construction of the new road.
2. Generally speaking the buildings are some five feet or more above the stream bed, but just before the junction of the stream course and the Kom Tsun Street nullah some huts have been erected near the edge of the stream bed and these could be affected during periods of heavy rainfall coinciding with high tides.
3.
Investigation is being made into the possibility of serious flooding, and the remedial measures to be taken if such should be necessary.
MR. K. S. Lo asked the following question:-
With reference to play equipment for playgrounds under the jurisdiction of this Council, in view of the protracted delays by overseas suppliers, will you, Sir, give this Council your categorical assurance that future requirements of this nature will be purchased locally?
MR. A. de O. Sales, CHAIRMAN OF THE URBAN AMENITIES SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows:-
From the date on which the Urban Services Department in- itiates action, it has taken an average of about 7 months for children's playground equipment to arrive in Hong Kong from Britain. About one half of this time is taken up by ordering procedures, the calling of tenders and shipment by sea. In two recent cases, the delivery time has been 12 and 14 months respectively, but these are exceptions.
This matter was discussed by the Urban Amenities Select Committee at its meeting on 17th December, 1965, when it was agreed that the Department should look into the
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
579
feasibility of obtaining children's playground equipment locally. I can assure you, Sir, that it is intended in future to purchase equipment locally in all cases where it would be advantageous to do so. But in the case of the more complicated items, especially those with moving parts, much will depend on the ability of Hong Kong manufac- turers to meet the stringent specifications which the Depart- ment must lay down in the interests of safety.
MR. Lo:-Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask some more supplemen- taries. Has any attempt been made in the past by your department in trying to obtain local tenders for the equipment?
MR. SALES: Sir, the Urban Amenities Select Committee has been for a long time very insistent on this point, that as much as possible the equipment should be made locally. However the department has still to conform to Government procedure in this matter and there is also the question of patent rights on certain types of equipment that we would like to use in Hong Kong; but we have as far as I know started in some places to have our own equipment. In fact, a case in point, which I see virtually every day is the playground along Chatham Road, and I believe also that the Hong Kong Housing Authority has local equipment in its playgrounds.
MR. Lo:-Sir, I want to thank the Chairman of the Urban Amenities Select Committee through you, for his answer, but if attempts have been made to obtain this equipment locally, I am sure you will find that not only the time of delivery will be cut down considerably but there will also be some considerable saving in cost. My second question is, is there anyone in your department who is capable of designing such equipment if it is to be ordered and made locally.
CHAIRMAN:-I don't think there is anybody in the Department capable of designing such equipment, but there may well be people who understand about equipment and would give ideas on the subject. I must in amplification of what Mr. SALES said, point out that some of the playground equipment is slightly complicated and I just don't think it is made in Hong Kong at the present time at all, and it might take some time to arrange for it to be made.
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, may I add that Mr. Lo can rest assured that what he wants to achieve is in fact identical with the purpose of the Select Committee. We have been hard put to convince the Depart- 'ment that it can be done in Hong Kong. I believe the Department now agrees with us that it should be done in Hong Kong. It is now a question of pursuing the matter vigorously, although experience of 12 to 14 months' delay of two deliveries has brought out the need far more vividly than before. As a matter of fact some playgrounds are just waiting for the equipment
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