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# HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
## ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN
Ladies and Gentlemen, before taking the first item on to-day's agenda Members will wish me to welcome Mr. FORSGATE and Mr. WRIGHT back to Hong Kong and to this Council on their return from leave.
Members will also wish me to welcome Mr. D. R. HOLMES, who is attending to-day for the first time as Secretary for Chinese Affairs. Mr. HOLMES needs no introduction to the Council, having been Chairman from November 1955 to February 1957 and again from November 1957 to March 1958. I am very pleased to have Mr. HOLMES on the Council. I am sure we will all benefit from his wide experience and proven ability. (Applause).
## MINUTES
The Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 4th October, 1966 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 October 1966.
(2) Urban Council and Urban Services Department Statistical Report for the period 1st July, 1966 to 30th September, 1966.
(3) Report by the Commissioner for Resettlement on the progress of clearance and resettlement operations during the period 1st July, 1966 to 30th September, 1966.
## QUESTIONS
(1) DR. A. M. S. BELL asked the following question:-
(a) Since the question was raised in this Council four months ago, what progress has been made by the Department concerned to remedy the deficiency in number, position and condition of street name signs throughout the urban area?
(b) Many tenement houses, especially older buildings, do not have signs of address (e.g. number or name) displayed clearly in an obvious place. What steps can be taken to ensure that all buildings within a street clearly indicate the number and/or name?
# HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:
315
Following the question on street name plates asked in August, the Director of Public Works sought the co-operation of the Commissioner of Police and the Hongkong and Kowloon Joint Kaifong Research Council in reporting instances where street name plates were missing, damaged or deficient. He also requested suggestions for improvements to the location or design of the plates. The Civil Engineering Office of the Public Works Department carried out its own survey also. In consequence, 64 new name plates were erected in Hong Kong and nearly 100 in Kowloon between the time the question was asked and early this month. It is estimated that a further 160 name plates are required in Hong Kong and 200 in Kowloon. Funds to cover the cost of these have been requested in the 1967/68 Estimates. Consideration is being given to the question of erecting street name plates on separate supports at the pavement edge rather than affixing them to buildings.
As regards the second part of the question, the Commissioner of Rating and Valuation is responsible for allocating numbers to buildings in the urban area. In respect of new buildings, after a number is allocated follow-up action is taken in all cases to ensure that numbers are clearly displayed when the premises are valued for rating. Unfortunately, some of these numbers are later obscured, perhaps when new occupants move in or if a new shop front is erected.
Last year a start was made on detailed numbering surveys, but due to more pressing commitments they have had to be deferred. Until more time can be devoted to these surveys the Commissioner does not think that any great improvement in the numbering of old buildings is likely to be achieved.
In the last few years efforts have been made to obtain better co-operation from those concerned with the numbering of buildings. These efforts include the following:
(i) All officers of the Rating and Valuation Department engaged on field work do, as time permits, call on owners and occupiers to draw attention to any lack of numbering.
(ii) In 1964 some 90,000 pamphlets were sent to owners and occupiers of buildings advising them...
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279
Page 170 of 279
314
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN.
Ladies and Gentlemen, before taking the first item on to-day's agenda Members will wish me to welcome Mr. FORSGATE and Mr. WRIGHT back to Hong Kong and to this Council on their return from leave.
Members will also wish me to welcome Mr. D. R. HOLMES, who is attending to-day for the first time as Secretary for Chinese Affairs. Mr. HOLMES needs no introduction to the Council, having been Chair- man from November 1955 to February 1957 and again from November 1957 to March 1958. I am very pleased to have Mr. HOLMES on the Council. I am sure we will all benefit from his wide experience and proven ability. (Applause).
MINUTES.
The Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 4th October, 1966 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 October 1966.
(2) Urban Council and Urban Services Department Statistical Report for the period 1st July, 1966 to 30th September, 1966.
(3) Report by the Commissioner for Resettlement on the pro- gress of clearance and resettlement operations during the period 1st July, 1966 to 30th September, 1966.
QUESTIONS.
(1) DR. A. M. S. BELL asked the following question:-
(a) Since the question was raised in this Council four months ago, what progress has been made by the Department concerned to remedy the deficiency in number, position and condition of street name signs throughout the urban area?
(b) Many tenement houses, especially older buildings, do not have signs of address (e.g. number or name) displayed clearly in an obvious place. What steps can be taken to ensure that all buildings within a street clearly indicate the number and/or name?
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:
315
Following the question on street name plates asked in August, the Director of Public Works sought the co-operation of the Commissioner of Police and the Hongkong and Kowloon Joint Kaifong Research Council in reporting instances where street name plates were missing, damaged or deficient. He also requested suggestions for improve- ments to the location or design of the plates. The Civil Engineering Office of the Public Works Department carried out its own survey also. In consequence, 64 new name plates were erected in Hong Kong and nearly 100 in Kowloon between the time the question was asked and early this month. It is estimated that a further 160 name plates are required in Hong Kong and 200 in Kowloon. Funds to cover the cost of these have been requested in the 1967/68 Estimates. Consideration is being given to the question of erecting street name plates on separate supports at the pavement edge rather than affixing them to buildings.
As regards the second part of the question, the Commissioner of Rating and Valuation is responsible for allocating numbers to buildings in the urban area. In respect of new buildings, after a number is allocated follow-up action is taken in all cases to ensure that numbers are clearly displayed when the premises are valued for rating. Unfortunately, some of these numbers are later obscured, perhaps when new occupants move in or if a new shop front is erected.
Last year a start was made on detailed numbering surveys, but due to more pressing commitments they have had to be deferred. Until more time can be devoted to these surveys the Commissioner does not think that any great improvement in the numbering of old buildings is likely to be achieved.
In the last few years efforts have been made to obtain better co-operation from those concerned with the numbering of buildings. These efforts include the following:
(i) All officers of the Rating and Valuation De- partment engaged on field work do, as time permits, call on owners and occupiers to draw attention to any lack of numbering.
(ii) In 1964 some 90,000 pamphlets were sent to owners and occupiers of buildings advising them
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