1965 — Page 89

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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

COMMISSIONER for RESETTLEMENT:- That point will certainly be borne in mind. There is, of course, one point that should be remembered that accommodation for the paraplegics to reside in this accommodation is included in the scheme. They are not required as a whole to travel every day to the Centre.

DR. BELL:- I understand that there is a very big vocational training centre which has been built, Mr. Chairman, in the Kwun Tong area which is not in this workshop and a great many of the paraplegics may be travelling backwards and forwards to that vocational training area. I wonder, Mr. Chairman, whether this area was given to the Social Welfare Department because it couldn't be used for anything else? Rather than giving them the best area in the Estate they have been given the worst area.

DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE:- Mr. Chairman, as has been stated already, this was in fact the only ground floor accommodation available in the Kwun Tong Resettlement Estate at the time that this scheme was being developed.

(6) DR. A. M. S. BELL asked the following question:-

(a) Is the Chairman satisfied that there are no serious public health risks at the Colony's gazetted beaches, such as dirty effluent from septic tanks or contaminated storm water drains or sewage from nearby dwelling places which might unduly contaminate the water in the vicinity of our beaches?

(b) Is the Chairman satisfied that every effort has been made to make the approach roads and steps to the Colony's gazetted beaches safe and easy for members of the public?

(c) Is the Chairman satisfied that this Council has made every effort to have proper changing-room facilities available for members of the public at all gazetted beaches in the Colony?

THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:-

Regarding the first part of the question, with the exception of Lai Chi Kok Beach, I am not aware that the water in the vicinity of any designated bathing beach is polluted to the extent that it constitutes a serious public health risk. If any Member has reason to suspect anything of causing a public health risk to bathers, I would appreciate being told at once, so that I may have an examination made.

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The answer to the second part of the question is that, having regard to the staff and funds available, I am satisfied that reasonable steps have been taken in recent years to improve access to gazetted bathing beaches. There is still much that needs to be done and, as is the established practice, the department's beach staff will begin their winter improvement works programme as soon as the bathing season ends. I should add that the department is currently reviewing existing parking facilities near beaches, with a view to consulting the Public Works Department, and the New Territories Administration where necessary, on the possibility of providing additional parking space. In fairness to the Director of Public Works I should warn Members that in some cases it may not be possible to increase the parking space near beaches without embarking on major public works requiring an item in the Government's Public Works Programme.

Regarding the third part of the question, it is not my impression that the Council has been dilatory in this matter.

DR. BELL: Mr. Chairman, as a matter of interest would you please tell me what happens to the sewage from villages and houses around the beaches, or the gazetted beaches, both in the Urban Areas and the New Territories?

DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS: So far as I won't say Urban Areas--but in Kowloon and Hong Kong and New Kowloon, that is outside the New Territories, I think that all the houses have their sewage going through a septic tank with the exception of Shek O. I think that the No. 1 houses at Shek O do, but not Shek O village. The New Territories I am afraid I can't speak for.

DR. BELL:- Mr. Chairman, as you are the Director of Urban Services would you be able to speak for the New Territories beaches?

DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS: Let me hastily add, it is not for that reason, it is simply because I am not aware of the situation in the New Territories where until very recently the Buildings Ordinance did not apply. We have no control over the villages and the Director of Public Works has no control over the sewage of the villages.

DR. BELL:- Mr. Chairman, as you yourself cannot reply perhaps the Acting Deputy Director of Medical and Health Services might be able to reply.

ACTING DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES:- Mr. Chairman, as far as I am aware the effluent from the houses near the bathing beaches in the New Territories also goes through septic tanks, with the exception of that from the villages.

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