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It was stated recently that the distance from the nearest bus-stop on Island Road to the park was 2 miles. In fact it is three-quarters of a mile to the park entrance.
Within the park it is a further walk of three-quarters of a mile to the lookout point at the tip of the peninsula.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Sir, I do not think I could quibble at three-quarters of a mile when people are travelling 17,000 miles an hour these days, so I would like to ask Question No. 7.
(7) MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:-
The residents of the Mount Davis district have expressed concern that the future building of a public mortuary in Victoria Road in the New Reclamation area will affect the amenities in the locality. They have suggested that the site reserved for the building of a public mortuary be used for additional open or recreation space, and that the proposed public mortuary be moved further in the direction of Pok Fu Lam. Can the Chairman of the Cemeteries, Crematoria and Funeral Parlours Select Committee please state whether he or his Committee was at any time consulted in regard to the siting of this public mortuary? Bearing in mind the Chinese traditional attitude towards "Fung Shui", is the Chairman of the Cemeteries, Crematoria and Funeral Parlours Select Committee prepared to have this matter studied by his Select Committee and have its views put forward to Government?
MR. CHEUNG WING-IN, CHAIRMAN OF THE CEMETERIES, CREMATORIA AND FUNERAL PARLOURS SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows:
Public mortuaries are the responsibility of the Medical and Health Department and the Cemeteries, Crematoria and Funeral Parlours Select Committee was not, therefore, consulted on the siting of this particular mortuary. I understand, however, that the site, which is the only one which can be developed within a reasonable period, was accepted after long and careful consideration by the Medical Development Plan Standing Committee.
2.
It will be appreciated that no matter where a public mortuary is sited it is likely to meet with opposition from the residents in the area. The new mortuary will, however, replace the present mortuary on Hill Road. The site for the new mortuary is not, as suggested in the question, on Victoria Road, but in a cul-de-sac well away from the residential area. The new mortuary is, therefore, unlikely to affect the amenities in the locality and should, in fact, be less objectionable than the present mortuary.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, through you, may I ask Mr. CHEUNG Wing-in, if and when he should receive any representations from the residents in the Mount Davis area giving further reasons why they object to this mortuary being placed in this particular site, would he and his committee be prepared to give this matter consideration, officially or unofficially, at their next committee meeting, and put forward their recommendations to the department concerned?
MR. CHEUNG-As already stated, the question of the mortuary was not referred to our Select Committee, and I do not think we can consider the question officially at our meetings.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-I said also unofficially. Would you be able to answer me whether they could discuss it unofficially at least?
MR. CHEUNG: I myself can see no objection to obtaining the views of my committee unofficially.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Thank you.
MR. BERNACCHI-Is this division of power, so to speak, between the Medical Department and ourselves-Medical Department as regards mortuaries-ourselves as regards cemeteries, crematoria and funeral parlours satisfactory in practice? Or are there some snags amongst ourselves, or some misunderstandings amongst members of the public?
CHAIRMAN:-Sir, I have no reason to think that it causes any difficulties. My understanding is that immediately following death the body is taken to a mortuary and is examined, and the proper authority for that kind of work is the Medical authority. When the examination is finished, the body has to be disposed of, and that is where the Urban Services Department takes over.
DR. BELL:-Mr. Chairman, may I stand and correct you on a point that I don't think is absolutely correct. It is only in certain cases that bodies are taken to mortuaries. I don't think unless you have been stabbed in the back, that you are likely to be taken to a mortuary. You are more likely to be taken to a funeral parlour.
CHAIRMAN:-You are quite right Dr. BELL, but I was thinking that this question referred to mortuaries and therefore to bodies that go to mortuaries.
DR. BELL: You did not make it quite clear. I am sorry if I corrected you wrongly.
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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It was stated recently that the distance from the nearest bus- stop on Island Road to the park was 2 miles. In fact it Within is three-quarters of a mile to the park entrance.
the park it is a further walk of three-quarters of a mile to the lookout point at the tip of the peninsula.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Sir, I do not think I could quibble at three- quarters of a mile when people are travelling 17,000 miles an hour these days, so I would like to ask Question No. 7.
(7) MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:-
The residents of the Mount Davis district have expressed con- cern that the future building of a public mortuary in Victoria Road in the New Reclamation area will affect the amenities in the locality. They have suggested that the site reserved for the building of a public mortuary be used for additional open or recreation space, and that the proposed public mortuary be moved further in the direc- tion of Pok Fu Lam. Can the Chairman of the Ceme- teries, Crematoria and Funeral Parlours Select Committee please state whether he or his Committee was at any time consulted in regard to the siting of this public mortuary? Bearing in mind the Chinese traditional attitude towards "Fung Shui", is the Chairman of the Cemeteries, Crema- toria and Funeral Parlours Select Committee prepared to have this matter studied by his Select Committee and have its views put forward to Government?
MR. CHEUNG WING-IN, CHAIRMAN OF THE Cemeteries, CREMATORIA AND FUNERAL PARLOURS SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows:
Public mortuaries are the responsibility of the Medical and Health Department and the Cemeteries, Crematoria and Funeral Parlours Select Committee was not, therefore, con- sulted on the siting of this particular mortuary. I under- stand, however, that the site, which is the only one which can be developed within a reasonable period, was accepted after long and careful consideration by the Medical Development Plan Standing Committee.
2.
It will be appreciated that no matter where a public mortuary is sited it is likely to meet with opposition from the residents in the area. The new mortuary will, how- ever, replace the present mortuary on Hill Road. The site for the new mortuary is not, as suggested in the question, on Victoria Road, but in a cul-de-sac well away
from the residential area. The new mortuary is, there- fore, unlikely to affect the amenities in the locality and should, in fact, be less objectionable than the present mortuary.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, through you, may I ask Mr. CHEUNG Wing-in, if and when he should receive any representations from the residents in the Mount Davis area giving further reasons why they object to this mortuary being placed in this particular site, would he and his committee be prepared to give this matter consideration, officially or unofficially, at their next committee meeting, and put for- ward their recommendations to the department concerned?
MR. CHEUNG-As already stated, the question of the mortuary was not referred to our Select Committee, and I do not think we can consider the question officially at our meetings.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-I said also unofficially. Would you be able to answer me whether they could discuss it unofficially at least?
MR. CHEUNG: I myself can see no objection to obtaining the views of my committee unofficially.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Thank you.
MR. BERNACCHI-Is this division of power, so to speak, between the Medical Department and ourselves-Medical Department as regards mortuaries-ourselves as regards cemeteries, crematoria and funeral parlours satisfactory in practice? Or are there some snags amongst ourselves, or some misunderstandings amongst members of the public?
CHAIRMAN: -Sir, I have no reason to think that it causes any difficulties. My understanding is that immediately following death the body is taken to a mortuary and is examined, and the proper authority for that kind of work is the Medical authority. When the examination is finished, the body has to be disposed of, and that is where the Urban Services Department takes over.
DR. BELL:-Mr. Chairman, may I stand and correct you on a point that I don't think is absolutely correct. It is only in certain cases that bodies are taken to mortuaries. I don't think unless you have been stabbed in the back, that you are likely to be taken to a mortuary. You are more likely to be taken to a funeral parlour.
CHAIRMAN: -You are quite right Dr. BELL, but I was thinking that this question referred to mortuaries and therefore to bodies that go to mortuaries.
DR. BELL: You did not make it quite clear. I am sorry if I corrected you wrongly.
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