HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
business is nobody's business. If the public is allowed to handle these problems at his own discretion, I cannot predict when the public will take the initial move, if there is to be any move at all. I would like to throw in at this point a reminder on this subject: in order not to increase the existing burden of clearing the slum areas in the Colony, in order to avoid the hardship of facing in the foreseeable future yet another lot of new born slums, and in order not to stimulate the spread of any epidemic, the U.S.D. should waste no time in taking the lead in the enforcement of sanitation and maintenance of all buildings in the Colony. We should ensure not only the cleansing and sanitary conditions of all domestic buildings, but we should see to it that the constructions of all buildings are properly painted and maintained at a fixed interval and defects properly repaired. We should not only just encourage the public to do the job; we should also do the job ourselves!
Still on the subject of Sanitation I would like to say a few words on the Mark I Estate of our Resettlement Department. There are, at present, 146 Mark I buildings scattered over nine different resettlement areas in both Hong Kong and Kowloon accommodating a total of approximately 338,000 persons. This figure represents almost one tenth of the population of Hong Kong and almost 50% of the resettled population. But, I cannot understand why the cooking, washing and toilet facilities in these estates are overlooked to such an extent that an outsider on his first visit would find it difficult to believe that they are meant for human beings. Cooking is usually done on the communal corridors meant as a fire escape; the toilet, bath rooms and the washing area do not suggest in any way any sign fit for human inhabitation. This is shame! There has been wild speculation that people in Hong Kong are dissatisfied all the time because they do not have an elected Government. But I consider the major root of discontent stems from poverty, overcrowdedness, and the unbearable living conditions. Therefore, I not only agree fully with my friend Mr. A. de O. SALES' statement that poor people in Hong Kong have more space dead than alive, but also wish to supplement that people have a cleaner, less fire hazardous and more sanitary place of rest dead than alive. I can well see our Mark I Estate turning into a vast slum of dirty, filthy concrete jungle soon. The only practical solution is to make alterations and improvements on those estates with special attention to the toilet, ablution and cooking facilities. I am sure the brilliant architects in our Public Works Department will bear these points in mind and know how to modify these buildings.
As a matter of fact, I do consider one or two of the conversions made on our Mark I Estate in changing it to self-contained flats a very suitable way to modify these buildings and I wonder if we could proceed along this basis, unless we are prepared to ask for more money in the near future to build more resettlement estates to re-resettle the residents now resettled.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Before I leave the topic on housing, I would like to say a few words on Boarding Houses and Advertising Signs. As my Friend, The Hon. Mrs. Ellen Li has spoken very eloquently on this subject. I have nothing more to add except to ask why most of the conversion made within the boarding houses and the structural additions to the structure, especially by big advertising signs, can escape the attention of the authority. As far as I understand, most of the Boarding House premises are situated at buildings designed as Chinese Tenement House. Therefore, the additional bathrooms and the subsequent partitions of bedroom in each individual boarding house are illegal conversion, disregarding public sanitation and health. However, I fully endorse the idea of regulating and licensing all boarding houses and advertising signs, providing that, in addition to other conditions being fulfilled, approved plans concerning the final arrangement from the Building Authority are produced.
My second remark is on the problem of car parking for all types of vehicles. Car parking is a headache which ordinary medicine cannot release. On the other hand, it is paradise to some civil servants in the City Hall and Central Government Offices who enjoy free parking facilities. Unfortunately true, the Urban Services Department is just managing the car parks, but has no say whatsoever on the planning. It seems to me that Government has the intention of passing the buck of providing parking facilities onto the hands of private enterprises. I doubt if this is right. One may argue that car parking is a luxury; but on the other hand one has to realize that it is also an integral part of modern city life and it has long become a necessity, closely tied up with the economic life of a community. In my view, the setting up of a Parking Authority similar in organization to the Housing Authority under this Council may be the key to the problem, not only in the Central District on the Island but also for the entire Colony. The Parking Authority should get loans from the Government and be given authority over all parkings in the Colony including managing the parking meters. The Parking Authority may also operate a parking warden squad checking parking offences, thus relieving the burden of the Police Force. It is advisable that the Parking Authority, if formed, should execute its affairs in a business-like manner so that eventually the Authority will become self-supporting, thereby benefiting the public by providing more satisfactory, convenient and economical parking facilities. Gradually, car parking will be centralized and on-street parking reduced, thereby rendering smoother road traffic. It might even to the pleasure of some, contribute more space for our hawkers stalls too. Who knows?
Page 209 of 279
1
390
391
209.61
1279
Page 209 of 279
1
390
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
business is nobody's business. If the public is allowed to handle these problems at his own discretion, I cannot predict when the public will take the initial move, if there is to be any move at all. I would like to throw in at this point a reminder on this subject: in order not to increase the existing burden of clearing the slum areas in the Colony, in order to avoid the hardship of facing in the foreseeable future yet another lot of new born slums, and in order not to stimulate the spread of any epidemic, the U.S.D. should waste no time in taking the lead in the enforcement of sanitation and maintenance of all buildings in the Colony. We should ensure not only the cleansing and sanitary conditions of all domestic buildings, but we should see to it that the constructions of all buildings are properly painted and maintained at a fixed interval and defects properly repaired. We should not only just encourage the public to do the job; we should also do the job ourselves!
Still on the subject of Sanitation I would like to say a few words on the Mark I Estate of our Resettlement Department. There are, at present, 146 Mark I buildings scattered over nine different resettle- ment areas in both Hong Kong and Kowloon accommodating a total of approximately 338,000 persons. This figure represents almost one tenth of the population of Hong Kong and almost 50% of the resettled population. But, I cannot understand why the cooking, wash- ing and toilet facilities in these estates are overlooked to such an extent that an outsider on his first visit would find it difficult to believe that they are meant for human beings. Cooking is usually done on the communal corridors meant as a fire escape; the toilet, bath rooms and the washing area do not suggest in any way any sign fit for human inhabitation. This is shame! There has been wild speculation that people in Hong Kong are dissatisfied all the time because they do not have an elected Government. But I consider the major root of dis- content stems from poverty, overcrowdedness, and the unbearable living conditions. Therefore, I not only agree fully with my friend Mr. A. de O. SALES' statement that poor people in Hong Kong have more space dead than alive, but also wish to supplement that people have a cleaner, less fire hazardous and more sanitary place of rest dead than alive. I can well see our Mark I Estate turning into a vast slum of dirty, filthy concrete jungle soon. The only practical solution is to make alternations and improvements on those estates with special attention to the toilet, ablution and cooking facilities. I am sure the brilliant architects in our Public Works Department will bear these points in mind and know how to modify these buildings.
As a matter of fact, I do consider one or two of the conversions made on our Mark I Estate in changing it to self-contained flats a very suitable way to modify these buildings and I wonder if we could proceed along this basis, unless we are prepared to ask for more money
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
391
in the near future to build more resettlement estates to re-resettle the residents now resettled.
Before I leave the topic on housing, I would like to say a few words on Boarding Houses and Advertising Signs. As my Friend, The Hon. Mrs. Ellen Li has spoken very eloquently on this subject. I have nothing more to add except to ask why most of the conversion made within the boarding houses and the structural additions to the structure, especially by big advertising signs, can escape the attention of the authority. As far as I understand, most of the Boarding House premises are situated at buildings designed as Chinese Tenement House. Therefore, the additional bathrooms and the subsequent partitions of bedroom in each individual boarding house are illegal conversion, disregarding public sanitation and health. However, I fully endorse the idea of regulating and licensing all boarding houses and advertising signs, providing that, in addition to other conditions being fulfilled, approved plans concerning the final arrangement from the Building Authority are produced.
My second remark is on the problem of car parking for all types of vehicles. Car parking is a headache which ordinary medicine cannot release. On the other hand, it is paradise to some civil servants in the City Hall and Central Government Offices who enjoy free parking facilities. Unfortunately true, the Urban Services Department is just managing the car parks, but has no say whatsoever on the planning. It seems to me that Government has the intention of passing the buck of providing parking facilities onto the hands of private enterprises. I doubt if this is right. One may argue that car parking is a luxury; but on the other hand one has to realize that it is also an integral part of modern city life and it has long become a necessity, closely tied up with the economic life of a community. In my view, the setting up of a Parking Authority similar in organization to the Housing Authority under this Council may be the key to the problem, not only in the Central District on the Island but also for the entire Colony. The Parking Authority should get loans from the Government and be given authority over all parkings in the Colony including managing the parking meters. The Parking Authority may also operate a parking warden squad checking parking offences, thus relieving the burden of the Police Force. It is advisable that the Parking Authority, if formed, should execute its aflairs in a business-like manner so that eventually the Authority will become self-supporting, thereby benefiting the public by providing more satisfactory, convenient and economical parking facilities. Gradually, car parking will be centralized and on-street parking reduced, thereby rendering smoother road traffic. It might even to the pleasure of some, contribute more space for our hawkers stalls too. Who knows?
209.61
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.