Page 198 of 279
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
The Resettlement policy Select Committee has been forced to delay making a decision to reduce from 16 sq. feet to 18 sq. feet per person the criteria for overcrowding. We were requested to wait for the report of the Committee set up to study the Working Party Report on Slum Clearance as it was going to have a bearing on this policy. As yet there has been no report and I hope that there will not be further delay so that this important policy step may be taken to relieve the plight of many resettlement dwellers who are like sardines in tins in the older estates.
It has been anomalous that our first priority for Resettlement should be the tenants of dangerous buildings who can afford to pay the rent in advance while those unable to pay rent in advance and in far greater housing and every other need have had to go to resite areas to await resettlement several years later. This priority obviously has to be reviewed but our endeavour to do so has again met with the request that we await the Report of the Committee set up to study the Slum Clearance as it was likely to have a bearing on this.
Now for our General Policy—our aim is very short on paper but goes a long way and is the biggest of the lot in reality! The Ad Hoc Committee Report on the Future, Scope and operation of the Urban Council is still the first suggestion for local government reform, and as at least the members of this Council know I am a strong supporter of its recommendations and when the sub-committees which have been set up to study it in detail make their reports, its feasibility and sensibility will become clear to those who have expressed doubts. Beyond everything, I consider that the greater Hong Kong Council, or call it what you will, being an elected and representative council as the Administrative Council is the most important factor. There is representation of the man in the street voted for by the electorate and of the district councils on this Council. The alternative that I have heard suggested of two councils with exactly the same scope as now, one for Kowloon and one for Hong Kong with everything channelling through the Colonial Secretariat offers no improvement on the present state of affairs and virtually no reform in local government. I feel sure that His Excellency the Governor did not have this in mind when he asked for views on local government reforms. I would like here to repeat a quotation attributed to the Duke of Edinburgh which I think is very appropriate to Hong Kong and to those who are always so much for the status quo "Change does not destroy tradition it strengthens it. Change does not disrupt a well-run organization it gives it new life. Change is a challenge, an opportunity and not a threat."
Had it not been for a traffic jam at the junction of Prince Edward Road and Waterloo Road due to road repairing which has been going on for 9 months, I would have been able to be present at the Standing Committee meeting of the Whole Council on November 9th which considered and passed our Statement of Aims and I might have been able to persuade you, Mr. Chairman to add a paragraph 24 worded perhaps like this—we shall continue to endeavour to ask questions and raise complaints in this Council regarding Transport, Roads, Parking and Traffic Control. Surely this Council should be entitled to have some aims under general policy on this important aspect of life in our city. Although 3 of our members are appointed as individuals on the Transport Advisory Committee this Council itself has been given no direct representation which I personally think is a mistake.
I suppose that since the experts from U.K. have issued a preliminary report suggesting that road works and repairing should be speeded up and be less space occupying, we may expect to see some improvement—I hope so, because tax-payers' money has now been spent for this advice which was given free year after year at past annual debates of this Council.
Parking facilities in certain areas are remarkable for only one thing their absence. I cannot understand why the Building Authority has not insisted that every multi-storey block should have parking facilities incorporated. Many new buildings are still going up using the basement for storage, etc. and practically never for car parking so that the occupiers of these flats will be forced to park their cars on the streets. Surely the policy is to increase off-street parking—if so where are sufficient off-street carparks? If multi-storey car-parks are considered to be such a good commercial investment why does Government not use part of the old Mong Kok Police Station site for a much-needed multi-storey car park and also for investment? Traffic, in Kowloon particularly, has become terribly hazardous both to the motorist and to the poor pedestrian. There is an extraordinary absence of motor cycle police patrols—if there were more then perhaps some control could be exercised on the lane jumping, the speeding, the failure to give way to pedestrians on crossings and the barging out in left-hand turns from side roads to main roads. The pedestrians are extremely badly done by. There are far too few safe crossings and it is high time that more pedestrian bridges were built of the type which is in Wylie Road, Kowloon. There is a great need for such a bridge outside the Kowloon North Magistracy especially now that there is a splendid playground in this area. I hope that wherever this Council opens playgrounds in future a safe pedestrian bridge crossing will be built wherever there is proximity to a busy thoroughfare.
Mr. Chairman I have pleasure in supporting the Aims for 1967 and may I express the hope that we achieve them and more. (Applause).
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Page 198 of 279
368
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
The Resettlement policy Select Committee has been forced to delay making a decision to reduce from 16 sq. feet to 18 sq. feet per person the criteria for overcrowding. We were requested to wait for the report of the Committee set up to study the working Party Report on Slum Clearance as it was going to have a bearing on this policy. As yet there has been no report and I hope that there will not be further delay so that this important policy step may be taken to relieve the plight of many resettlement dwellers who are like sardines in tins in the older estates.
It has been anomalous that our first priority for Resettlement should be the tenants of dangerous buildings who can afford to pay the rent in advance while those unable to pay rent in advance and in far greater housing and every other need have had to go to resite areas to await resettlement several years later. This priority obviously has to be reviewed but our endeavour to do so has again met with the request that we await the Report of the Committee set up to study the Slum Clearance as it was likely to have a bearing on this.
Now for our General Policy-our aim is very short on paper but goes a long way and is the biggest of the lot in reality! The Ad Hoc Committee Report on the Future, Scope and operation of the Urban Council is still the first suggestion for local government reform, and as at least the members of this Council know I am a strong supporter of its recommendations and when the sub-committees which have been set up to study it in detail make their reports, its feasibility and sen- sibility will become clear to those who have expressed doubts. Beyond everything, I consider that the greater Hong Kong Council, or call it what you will, being an elected and representative council as the Administrative Council is the most important factor. There is repre- sentation of the man in the street voted for by the electorate and of the district councils on this Council. The alternative that I have heard suggested of two councils with exactly the same scope as now, one for Kowloon and one for Hong Kong with everything channelling through the Colonial Secretariat offers no improvement on the present state of affairs and virtually no reform in local government. I feel sure that His Excellency the Governor did not have this in mind when he asked for views on local government reforms. I would like here to repeat a quotation attributed to the Duke of Edinburgh which I think is very appropriate to Hong Kong and to those who are always so much for the status quo "Change does not destroy tradition it strengthens it. Change does not disrupt a well run organization it gives it new life. Change is a challenge, an opportunity and not a threat."
Had it not been for a traffic jam at the junction of Prince Edward Road and Waterloo Road due to road repairing which has been going on for 9 months, I would have been able to be present at the Standing
:
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
369
Committee meeting of the Whole Council on November 9th which con- sidered and passed our Statement of Aims and I might have been able to persuade you, Mr. Chairman to add a paragraph 24 worded perhaps like this-we shall continue to endeavour to ask questions and raise complaints in this Council regarding Transport, Roads, Parking and Traffic Control. Surely this Council should be entitled to have some aims under general policy on this important aspect of life in our city. Although 3 of our members are appointed as individuals on the Trans- port Advisory Committee this Council itself has been given no direct representation which I personally think is a mistake.
I suppose that since the experts from U.K. have issued a pre- liminary report suggesting that road works and repairing should be speeded up and be less space occupying, we may expect to see some improvement-I hope so, because tax-payers money has now been spent for this advice which was given free year after year at past annual debates of this Council.
Parking facilities in certain areas are remarkable for only one thing their absence. I cannot understand why the Building Authority has not insisted that every multi-storey block should have parking facilities incorporated. Many new buildings are still going up using the basement for storage, etc. and practically never for car parking so that the occupiers of these flats will be forced to park their cars on the streets. Surely the policy is to increase off street parking-if so where are sufficient off street carparks? If multi-storey car-parks are considered to be such a good commercial investment why does Government not use part of the old Mong Kok Police Station site for a much needed multi-storey car park and also for investment? Traffic, in Kowloon particularly, has become terribly hazardous both to the motorist and to the poor pedestrian. There is an extraordinary absence of motor cycle police patrols-if there were more then perhaps some control could be exercised on the lane jumping, the speeding, the failure to give way to pedestrians on crossings and the barging out in left hand turns from side roads to main roads. The pedestrians are extremely badly done by. There are far too few safe crossings and it is high time that more pedestrian bridges were built of the type which is in Wylie Road, Kowloon. There is a great need for such a bridge outside the Kowloon North Magistracy especially now that there is a splendid playground in this area. I hope that wherever this Council opens playgrounds in future a safe pedestrian bridge crossing will be built wherever there is proximity to a busy thoroughfare.
Mr. Chairman I have pleasure in supporting the Aims for 1967 and may I express the hope that we achieve them and more. (Applause).
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