Page 227 of 279
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
meeting of the Council which indicated that a committee was to be appointed to investigate and make recommendations on the problems of air pollution. I am pleased to be able to inform Members that such a committee has now been formed with the following terms of reference:
To determine the causes of air pollution in the Colony and to estimate, if possible, the extent of this air pollution and recommend:
Firstly, what amendments or changes are required to make the Clean Air Ordinance an effective Ordinance to control air pollution; and
Secondly, what additional statutory or other controls, if any, are necessary outside the Clean Air Ordinance to cover fully the problem of air pollution.
I am sure that Members will be delighted to know that our colleague, Mr. MARDEN, has agreed to serve as Chairman of this committee. Dr. Alison BELL has also agreed to serve as a member.
Water pollution is a somewhat separate subject and is of particular importance in regard to bathing beaches.
Lai Chi Kok Beach is considered to be highly polluted and, as Members are aware, advice has been given to the public concerning the potential dangers of swimming in this part of the harbour. It is unlikely that much can be done in the near future to improve conditions at this beach which is in a built-up and still developing urban area.
As to other beaches, Members will recall that the Ad Hoc Committee which they appointed at the end of last year presented its final report in March of this year. Since then detailed reports on each beach have been prepared by the Health Officers indicating the measures that would be necessary to remove possible local sources of pollution. These have now been discussed and the sites visited with representatives of the Public Works Department to consider how the work can best be carried out.
I would like now to refer briefly to one or two other subjects rather outside the Council's scope which were raised by Unofficial Members. Mr. BERNACCHI mentioned the School Medical Service, though his references to it seemed a little involved with children sucking sweets in queues for monthly bus tickets. As you know, the present scheme is run by the School Service Medical Board which is an independent body financially assisted by Government, and I would mention that two Unofficial Members of the Council are members of this Board. I am glad to say that following recent improvements which have been made in the administration of the Scheme, a better response from schools has now produced a much more encouraging number of participants.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
As regards queues for monthly bus tickets I am informed that there should be no real reason for these since both Bus Companies make these tickets available for issue over a period of 3 to 4 days each month, but parents appear to leave it to the last day of the period before giving their children the money to purchase the tickets.
Many attempts have been made to sell monthly bus tickets direct to children through the schools they attend. If this scheme was successful it would, of course, eliminate queuing entirely, but unfortunately the schools concerned seem reluctant to perform this service for the Bus Companies.
Perhaps the answer to this problem lies in giving greater publicity to the Bus Companies' arrangements so that purchasers of monthly tickets can be spread over the three or four-day period.
Another matter raised by Mr. Li Yiu-bor concerned the shortage of hospital beds. There is admittedly such a shortage, but a very considerable increase in the provision of public hospital and low-cost beds has been made in recent years. The number in fact, has been trebled in the last 14 years while the population has a good deal less than doubled in the same period. I would mention also that, apart from providing free grants of land, repayment of rates and interest-free loans, Government financial assistance to hospitals built and run by voluntary agencies does cover a very high proportion of their costs, the extent of this is shown by the following figures:- in the last 10 years, direct Government subsidies for 13 non-Government hospitals has totalled some $41 million for capital expenditure on new buildings and equipment alone, and nearly $186 million for expenditure on their running costs.
In conclusion, I would like to thank all Members of this Council for their unfailing interest in all community health matters and to express my appreciation of their endeavours to continually improve the physical, and social, environment of the people of Hong Kong.
Sir, I beg to support the motion. (Applause).
MR. B. A. BERNACCHI :—Mr. Chairman, on a point of clarification, I was referring to the lack of a school dental service, since the school medical services have been extended, or perhaps I should say not confined to Government schools. As I have this morning been to a dentist myself, I reiterate the value of a school dental service as opposed to confining it to a school medical service only.
SECRETARY FOR CHINESE AFFAIRS: -Mr. Chairman, I would like to deal first with the point raised by my friend, Dr. P. F. Woo, on the subject of health education. I personally agree very fully with Dr. Woo, and I know the remarks of the Deputy Chairman show that our
426
427
Page 279
279
Page 227 of 279
426
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
meeting of the Council which indicated that a committee was to be appointed to investigate and make recommendations on the problems of air pollution. I am pleased to be able to inform Members that such a committee has now been formed with the following terms of reference:
To determine the causes of air pollution in the Colony and to estimate, if possible, the extent of this air pollution and recom- mend:
Firstly, what amendments or changes are required to make the Clean Air Ordinance an effective Ordinance to control air pollution; and
Secondly, what additional statutory or other controls, if any, are necessary outside the Clean Air Ordinance to cover fully the problem of air pollution.
I am sure that Members will be delighted to know that our colleague, Mr. MARDEN, has agreed to serve as Chairman of this committee. Dr. Alison BELL has also agreed to serve as a member.
Water pollution is a somewhat separate subject and is of particular importance in regard to bathing beaches.
Lai Chi Kok Beach is considered to be highly polluted and, as Members are aware, advice has been given to the public concerning the potential dangers of swimming in this part of the harbour. It is unlikely that much can be done in the near future to improve conditions at this beach which is in a built-up and still developing urban area.
As to other beaches, Members will recall that the Ad Hoc Com- mittee which they appointed at the end of last year presented its final report in March of this year. Since then detailed reports on each beach have been prepared by the Health Officers indicating the measures that would be necessary to remove possible local sources of pollution. These have now been discussed and the sites visited with representatives of the Public Works Department to consider how the work can best be carried out.
I would like now to refer briefly to one or two other subjects rather outside the Council's scope which were raised by Unofficial Members. Mr. BERNACCHI mentioned the School Medical Service, though his references to it seemed a little involved with children sucking sweets in queues for monthly bus tickets. As you know, the present scheme is run by the School Service Medical Boand which is an independent body financially assisted by Government, and I would mention that two Unofficial Members of the Council are members of this Board. I am glad to say that following recent improvements which have been made in the administration of the Scheme, a better response from schools has now produced a much more encouraging number of participants.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
427
As regards queues for monthly bus tickets I am informed that there should be no real reason for these since both Bus Companies make these tickets available for issue over a period of 3 to 4 days each month, but parents appear to leave it to the last day of the period before giving their children the money to purchase the tickets.
Many attempts have been made to sell monthly bus tickets direct to children through the schools they attend. If this scheme was successful it would, of course, eliminate queuing entirely, but unfor- tunately the schools concerned seem reluctant to perform this service for the Bus Companies.
Perhaps the answer to this problem lies in giving greater publicity to the Bus Companies' arrangements so that purchasers of monthly tickets can be spread over the three or four-day period.
Another matter raised by Mr. Li Yiu-bor concerned the shortage of hospital beds. There is admittedly such a shortage, but a very con- siderable increase in the provision of public hospital and low cost beds has been made in recent years. The number in fact, has been trebled in the last 14 years while the population has a good deal less than doubled in the same period. I would mention also that, apart from providing free grants of land, repayment of rates and interest free loans, Government financial assistance to hospitals built and run by voluntary agencies does cover a very high proportion of their costs, the extent of this is shown by the following figures:-in the last 10 years, direct Government subsidies for 13 non-Government hospitals has totalled some $41 million for capital expenditure on new buildings and equip- ment alone, and nearly $186 million for expenditure on their running
costs.
In conclusion, I would like to thank all Members of this Council for their unfailing interest in all community health matters and to express my appreciation of their endeavours to continually improve the physical, and social, environment of the people of Hong Kong.
Sir, I beg to support the motion. (Applause).
MR. B. A. BERNACCHI :—Mr. Chairman, on a point of clarification, I was referring to the lack of a school dental service, since the school medical services have been extended, or perhaps I should say not con- fined to Government schools. As I have this morning been to a dentist myself, I reiterate the value of a school dental service as opposed to confining it to a school medical service only.
SECRETARY FOR CHINESE AFFAIRS: -Mr. Chairman, I would like to deal first with the point raised by my friend, Dr. P. F. Woo, on the subject of health education. I personally agree very fully with Dr. Woo, and I know the remarks of the Deputy Chairman show that our
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.