1966 — Page 127

of 279

Page 127 of 279

Page 127 of 279

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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

CHAIRMAN:-Yes Sir, this question will be asked of the Marine Department, and the remarks of Dr. BELL will be put to the Marine Department. I am sorry that I cannot satisfy members with an answer to-day, it is outside my territory.

DR. BELL:-Mr. Chairman, I was going to remark that you did introduce a lot of new matter into this question, because my main aim (Laughter)-in asking this question was to make those beaches which we recommended to be gazetted last year more accessible to the public. Most of them have been accessible to a limited number of the public by transportation by small petrol outboard motor craft which have been run for many years by families. Recently, we gazetted these beaches and literally hundreds and thousands of people have been going to these beaches since they were gazetted. If they don't go by petrol engines they have to go by rowing, which takes about half an hour. It costs a very great deal more because of the human effort that is required; and petrol engines are available for use in these small motor boats. If they were required to change to diesel engines, it would put a great deal of expense on those people, and that was my object in asking this question, whether the law could be modified to permit these small boats during the swimming season to transport people to the beaches.

CHAIRMAN:-I must say Dr. BELL, from the reply that I originally received from the Director of Marine, the prospects of an amendment to the law to meet your point do not appear very favourable.

(10) DR. P. F. Woo asked the following question:-

There were reports in the press that Fuk Wing Street, Sham Shui Po is nicknamed as "Smelling Street" due to the constant occurrence of accumulated refuse in that particu- lar area, and recently I have received complaints from residents of Fook Wing Building about this matter. Would the Chairman explain what steps have been taken to remove such nuisance?

THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:-

Until today there was a refuse vehicle collection stop oppo- site house No. 94 in Fuk Wing Street. The quantity of domestic refuse being delivered to the stop was on the increase, due to development in the area, but I believe the reports which appeared in the newspapers about the accumulation were somewhat exaggerated. Refuse collec- tion vehicles used to call at the stop four times a day and the refuse was completely cleared on each occasion.

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The stop was moved today to a new site on a piece of un- developed land in Un Chau Street. This site has been fenced in. Its main advantage is to allow refuse to be loaded onto vehicles off the street.

DR. Woo:-Mr. Chairman, I don't quite agree with you. I visited the area myself. However, I am glad you have moved the stop to another new site. Mr. Chairman, could you give me an assurance that your vehicles will stop at this site four times a day and no less?

CHAIRMAN: --If it is necessary that they should stop four times a day, they will.

(11) DR. P. F. Woo asked the following question:

Shortly after the conception of the Health Education Select Committee, it was proposed that a Booklet on General Health and Sanitation should be prepared by your depart- ment. Would the Chairman explain why after nine years no progress has been reported?

THE DEPUTY Director of MedICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES replied as follows:-

2.

In fact, no general booklet on Health and Sanitation has been produced by the Department and I am unable, after the lapse of 9 years, to ascertain the reason for this.

However, since 1957 the Urban Services Department has issued to the public a large number of booklets and leaflets dealing with a wide variety of topics concerning health, hygiene and sanitation. It is believed that these have had some impact, at least from time to time, and have also possibly achieved wider publicity by treating each subject separately and with more emphasis.

DR. Woo: Mr. Chairman, I have no doubt that Dr. COOMBES has read the minutes of the meeting held in 1957. The reason I put this question is that I find it difficult to understand why when the Committee made a decision, no staff in the department has ever made any progress report to that particular committee in nine years.

DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES:-1 previously stated that I do not know the reason why this booklet was not prepared. I would mention that the Chairman of the Health Education Select Committee has remained unchanged since 1957. (Laughter). This may be an indication of the speed with which that Committee sets about things. (Laughter).