HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN.
Before we start the business of this meeting I would like to welcome back Mr. Li Yiu-bor after his visit to England. I am sure that all Members will join me in expressing the hope that he is now fully recovered. (Cries of hear, hear) (Applause).
I would also like to welcome Mr. PASCOE in his capacity as Secretary of the Council.
MINUTES.
The Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 6th April, 1965 were confirmed.
PAPERS.
THE CHAIRMAN laid upon the table the following papers:
(1) Report on the work of the Urban Council and Urban Services Department for the month of April 1965.
(2) Urban Council and Urban Services Department Statistical Report for the period 1st January, 1965 to 31st March, 1965.
(3) Report by the Commissioner for Resettlement on the progress of clearance and resettlement operations during the period 1st January, 1965 to 31st March, 1965.
(4) Report on "Keep Your District Clean" Campaign, Happy Valley and Canal Road District.
DR. R. H. S. LEE:- Mr. Chairman, regarding one of the papers that you have laid on the table, as Chairman of the Environmental Hygiene Select Committee, I have the following observations to make.
From our recent experience of "Keep Your District Clean" Campaign we have learnt that to be successful, we have to mobilize all available resources aiming towards putting over a message to the people that it is in their interests that the work is being done. To have any lasting improvement, however, it is imperative to seek the co-operation of local residents, students, hawkers, kaifongs, and interested Government bodies to participate in keeping the area clean. To have the maximum impact it is important that the campaign should concentrate on a single district at a time, but above all the Council Members themselves should be interested in the cleanliness of their own districts and to provide the necessary leadership and drive if we are ever to make Hong Kong a really clean place.
MR. A. de O. SALES:- Sir, it is as Chairman of the Urban Amenities Select Committee that I wish to comment on the papers which you have just laid on the table this afternoon. I would like to report, Sir, to the Council that the Urban Amenities Select Committee has set up an ad hoc beach sub-committee with Dr. BELL as convenor and Mr. Li Yiu-bor and Mr. FORSGATE as members, specifically for the purpose of carrying out a survey of the beaches in the New Territories so as to make recommendations for their improvement and also for the opening of additional beaches within easier access to the people living in urban areas.
Sir, I think it is ridiculous and anachronistic the position which this Council holds in respect of beaches in the New Territories. In public as in private, Members of the Urban Council have made representations on behalf of public organizations and private individuals regarding the improvements which should be introduced to the beaches in the New Territories, with particular reference to Silverstrand Beach. Complain as they will, Urban Councillors can only stand in frustration while officialdom carries out in its unhurried way the improvements which it deems necessary in this regard. In my view, such improvements as will be made will not be in time for the fun and recreation of the people who now complain about the shortcomings; but, the redress of these grievances will be made for the enjoyment of their children, and perhaps even their children's children. In this context, Sir, it is my intention to recommend to the Urban Amenities Select Committee that we endeavour to regularize the position of this Council, relative to the beaches and other recreational amenities in the New Territories, so that we may acquire the statutory powers to ensure that our recommendations are put into effect.
CHAIRMAN:- Sir, if I may be permitted to comment briefly on your observations, I feel that your emotions are greatly moved over Silverstrand Beach. May I say first that the Urban Services Department has always gladly received and paid close attention to any advice obtained from the Urban Amenities Select Committee or Members of this Council in respect of beaches in the New Territories. I must say I regard the situation at Silverstrand Beach as being unfortunate. I think I am right in saying that it seems to be the one beach in the New Territories which is below standard at the moment, but I would point out that the situation there arose from initial typhoon damage which occurred in July 1964 and further serious typhoon damage which occurred in September and October 1964. The Public Works Department prepared outline plans for work on the broken wall at the beach, and the item was put into Category D in the Public Works Programme in December 1964. Detailed design work on the wall then began and work actually started on 19th March this year and is due for completion by the end of June. I think it would have been unwise to leave the wall in a broken state during this swimming season because it is quite possible that accidents could have occurred to children using the beach. It is our
Page 40 of 382
58
Page 41
59
$2
Page 40 of 382
58
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN.
Before we start the business of this meeting I would like to welcome back Mr. Li Yiu-bor after his visit to England. I am sure that all Members will join me in expressing the hope that he is now fully re- covered. (Cries of hear, hear) (Applause).
I would also like to welcome Mr. PASCOE in his capacity as Secretary of the Council.
MINUTES.
The Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 6th April, 1965 were confirmed.
PAPERS.
THE CHAIRMAN laid upon the table the following papers:
(1) Report on the work of the Urban Council and Urban
Services Department for the month of April 1965.
(2) Urban Council and Urban Services Department Statistical Report for the period 1st January, 1965 to 31st March, 1965.
(3) Report by the Commissioner for Resettlement on the progress of clearance and resettlement operations during the period 1st January, 1965 to 31st March, 1965.
(4) Report on "Keep Your District Clean" Campaign, Happy
Valley and Canal Road District.
DR. R. H. S. LEE:-Mr. Chairman, regarding one of the papers that you have laid on the table, as Chairman of the Environmental Hygiene Select Committee, I have the following observations to make.
From our recent experience of "Keep Your District Clean" Cam- paign we have learnt that to be successful, we have to mobilize all avail- able resources aiming towards putting over a message to the people that it is in their interests that the work is being done. To have any lasting improvement, however, it is imperative to seek the co-operation of local residents, students, hawkers, kaifongs, and interested Government bodies to participate in keeping the area clean. To have the maximum impact it is important that the campaign should concentrate on a single district at a time, but above all the Council Members themselves should be interested in the cleanliness of their own districts and to provide the necessary leadership and drive if we are ever to make Hong Kong a really clean place.
MR. A. de O. SALES:-Sir, it is as Chairman of the Urban Amenities Select Committee that I wish to comment on the papers which
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
59
you have just laid on the table this afternoon. I would like to report, Sir, to the Council that the Urban Amenities Select Committee has set up an ad hoc beach sub-committee with Dr. BELL as convenor and Mr. Li Yiu-bor and Mr. FoRSGATE as members, specifically for the purpose of carrying out a survey of the beaches in the New Territories so as to make recommendations for their improvement and also for the opening of additional beaches within easier access to the people living in urban
areas.
Sir, I think it is ridiculous and anachronistic the position which this Council holds in respect of beaches in the New Territories. In public as in private, Members of the Urban Council have made repre- sentations on behalf of public organizations and private individuals regarding the improvements which should be introduced to the beaches in the New Territories, with particular reference to Silverstrand Beach. Complain as they will, Urban Councillors can only stand in frustration while officialdom carries out in its unhurried way the improvements which it deems necessary in this regard. In my view, such improve- ments as will be made will not be in time for the fun and recreation of the people who now complain about the shortcomings; but, the re- dress of these grievances will be made for the enjoyment of their children, and perhaps even their children's children. In this context, Sir, it is my intention to recommend to the Urban Amenities Select Committee that we endeavour to regularize the position of this Council, relative to the beaches and other recreational amenities in the New Territories, so that we may acquire the statutory powers to ensure that our recommendations are put into effect.
CHAIRMAN:--Sir, if I may be permitted to comment briefly on your observations, I feel that your emotions are greatly moved over Silver- strand Beach. May I say first that the Urban Services Department has always gladly received and paid close attention to any advice obtained from the Urban Amenities Select Committee or Members of this Council in respect of beaches in the New Territories. I must say I regard the situation at Silverstrand Beach as being unfortunate. I think I am right in saying that it seems to be the one beach in the New Territories which is below standard at the moment, but I would point out that the situation there arose from initial typhoon damage which occurred in July 1964 and further serious typhoon damage which occurred in September and October 1964. The Public Works Department prepared outline plans for work on the broken wall at the beach, and the item was put into Category D in the Public Works Programme in December 1964. Detailed design work on the wall then began and work actually started on 19th March this year and is due for completion by the end of June. I think it would have been unwise to leave the wall in a broken state during this swimming season because it is quite possible that accidents could have occurred to children using the beach. It is our
Page 40Page 41
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.