HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MINUTES.
The Minutes of the meeting held on 7th March, 1967 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 March, 1967.
(2) Statement of Progress for 1966-67.
MR. SALES: Sir, there are two comments on your Statement of Progress for 1966-67 which I would like to make. First, as Chairman of the City Hall Select Committee, I think it should be known that the Management of the City Hall has been asked to organize and present more popular concerts. In the last administrative year, there were 17 such concerts with a total attendance of over 24,000 people, particularly of the younger generation. Their immense popularity is most encouraging and points to the need for this Council to provide more such cultural entertainment. Plans are being made to take advantage of every opportunity which may be offered for an increase in the number and variety of these concerts. I am sure that all Members of the Council support this expansion.
Secondly, it is as Chairman of the Parks, Recreation and Amenities Select Committee, that I invite the attention of this Council to a similar development in our programme of public entertainment. The Council is now trying to provide a concert on each side of the harbour every Sunday. It is intended to increase the number of these concerts to three each weekend and on public holidays; one on the Island, another in Kowloon and a third in New Kowloon where there are heavy concentrations of people. Likewise, these band concerts are proving increasingly popular. It is also intended to experiment with other musical entertainment where indoor facilities exist so that the opportunity may also be given to schools and other groups to perform in public.
There is yet another aspect of the policy of this particular Select Committee which will gain by being brought up once more. It is the pressing need for covered facilities in our parks and playgrounds, to which you, Sir, referred in another Council not so long ago. It is true that this Council has provided much public open space in the last eight years. The point has now been reached when consideration must be given to indoor facilities so that shelter may be provided in the rainy season which will also enable entertainment to be afforded to the people of a nature which it is not practicable to provide in open air.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- Mr. Chairman, with your permission may I make a few brief comments on the 1966-67 Statement of Progress?
First the ward system: in addition to the 1,200 cases which were dealt with during the year at the 10 Urban Council wards, many other cases were taken up through Urban Councillors direct with the Urban Services Department or with the Resettlement Department.
During the year, I must have referred between 100 - 120 written appeals or complaints direct to the Commissioner for Resettlement or the Secretary of the Urban Council for action. I am sure that many other Councillors have also been handling cases in similar fashion.
It is quite likely therefore that the number of complaints or enquiries taken up by Urban Councillors during the year was well over 2,000 including the 1,200 dealt with at ward offices.
Secondly, it is to be noted that the Council now manages four multi-story and six open-air car parks. However, this number is far from sufficient, and motorists are finding it more and more frustrating to find car parking space for their vehicles.
I would propose that the Government make this Council the responsible authority for planning and building car parks in the urban areas, and that this Council would act in close consultation with the Transport Office.
Thirdly, as regards hawkers, I am deeply concerned about the many hundreds of young children between the ages of 11 - 14 who must appear before the Juvenile Courts weekly, to be cautioned or to be fined $1 or $2 for illegal hawking. Some of these children have been regular weekly visitors to the Juvenile Courts for as long a period as 2 years. These unfortunate children are the victims of social circumstances; many of them have not been to school or have had only one or two years primary education. They are a "sad circus" which is a blot on Hongkong's social conscience. I would urge that Government take steps to expand the welfare and probation section of the Social Welfare Department to give more individual attention to these cases.
DR. BELL: Mr. Chairman, may I make a few comments as the acting Chairman of the Environmental Hygiene Select Committee? I am very happy to see in your report that you have arranged for regular meetings between the Cleansing staff and Inspectors of the Roads and Drainage Office to report on defects. The Environmental Hygiene Select Committee has asked for reports each month on the number of defects which have been reported to the Roads and Drainage Office and the number which have been put right. As for refuse collection, the Environmental Hygiene Select Committee is hoping to have a campaign
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MINUTES.
The Minutes of the meeting held on 7th March, 1967 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 March, 1967. (2) Statement of Progress for 1966-67.
MR. SALES: Sir, there are two comments on your Statement of Progress for 1966-67 which I would like to make. First, as Chairman of the City Hall Select Committee, I think it should be known that the Management of the City Hall has been asked to organize and present more popular concerts. In the last administrative year, there were 17 such concerts with a total attendance of over 24,000 people, particularly of the younger generation. Their immense popularity is most encour- aging and points to the need for this Council to provide more such cultural entertainment. Plans are being made to take advantage of every opportunity which may be offered for an increase in the number and variety of these concerts. I am sure that all Members of the Council support this expansion.
Secondly, it is as Chairman of the Parks, Recreation and Amenities Select Committee, that I invite the attention of this Council to a similar development in our programme of public entertainment. The Council is now trying to provide a concert on each side of the harbour every Sunday. It is intended to increase the number of these concerts to three each weekend and on public holidays; one on the Island, another in Kowloon and a third in New Kowloon where there are heavy con- centrations of people. Likewise, these band concerts are proving in- creasingly popular. It is also intended to experiment with other musical entertainment where indoor facilities exist so that the oppor- tunity may also be given to schools and other groups to perform in public.
There is yet another aspect of the policy of this particular Select Committee which will gain by being brought up once more. It is the pressing need for covered facilities in our parks and playgrounds, to which you, Sir, referred in another Council not so long ago. It is true that this Council has provided much public open space in the last eight years. The point has now been reached when consideration must be given to indoor facilities so that shelter may be provided in the rainy season which will also enable entertainment to be afforded to the people of a nature which it is not practicable to provide in open air.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
3
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, with your permission may I make a few brief comments on the 1966-67 Statement of Progress?
First the ward system: in addition to the 1,200 cases which were dealt with during the year at the 10 Urban Council wards, many other cases were taken up through Urban Councillors direct with the Urban Services Department or with the Resettlement Department.
During the year, I must have referred between 100 - 120 written appeals or complaints direct to the Commissioner for Resettlement or the Secretary of the Urban Council for action. I am sure that many other Councillors have also been handling cases in similar fashion.
It is quite likely therefore that the number of complaints or enquiries taken up by Urban Councillors during the year was well over 2,000 including the 1,200 dealt with at ward offices.
Secondly, it is to be noted that the Council now manages four multi-story and six open-air car parks. However, this number is far from sufficient, and motorists are finding it more and more frustrating to find car parking space for their vehicles.
I would propose that the Government make this Council the responsible authority for planning and building car parks in the urban areas, and that this Council would act in close consultation with the Transport Office.
Thirdly, as regards hawkers, I am deeply concerned about the many hundreds of young children between the ages of 11 - 14 who must appear before the Juvenile Courts weekly, to be cautioned or to be fined $1 or $2 for illegal hawking. Some of these children have been regular weekly visitors to the Juvenile Courts for as long a period as 2 years. These unfortunate children are the victims of social circum- stances; many of them have not been to school or have had only one or two years primary education. They are a "sad circus" which is a blot on Hongkong's social conscience. I would urge that Government take steps to expand the welfare and probation section of the Social Welfare Department to give more individual attention to these cases.
DR. BELL: Mr. Chairman, may I make a few comments as the acting Chairman of the Environmental Hygiene Select Committee? I am very happy to see in your report that you have arranged for regular meetings between the Cleansing staff and Inspectors of the Roads and Drainage Office to report on defects. The Environmental Hygiene Select Committee has asked for reports each month on the number of defects which have been reported to the Roads and Drainage Office and the number which have been put right. As for refuse collection, the Environmental Hygiene Select Committee is hoping to have a campaign
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