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CHAIRMAN:-Let me try and explain what the Council Section has admittedly not done the item which I mentioned in my answer--and it is most easily done by taking an example. We can take an example from to-day's Order Paper. Item 3 is a question from Mr. Wilfred WONG about rafts at Shek O beach. Now, some time about twelve months ago, I think it was in 1966, a question was asked about rafts at Shek O beach by Mr. Wilfred WONG. The substance of that question was, how is it we do not have any rafts there when we used to have rafts there. The matter was referred to the Parks, Recreation & Amenities Select Committee, and that Committee eventually decided on an experiment with one raft with a much heavier mooring than previously. That decision was not referred back to the Council, and was only made known today because a further question was specifically asked by Mr. Wilfred WONG. That is the fault in our system which is going to be rectified. Other than that, Dr. Woo, I cannot admit to any deficiency in our system unless you will give me a specific example.
DR. Woo:-Mr. Chairman, I have here a 1958 Hansard. I asked the question whether the Council would extend the hours of opening in the Botanic Gardens, and have one area lit at night for people to sit in the summer. Mr. MORRISON, the then Chairman, said "I am only too pleased to refer this to the Select Committee". This has never been done. Now, in a case like this what are we going to do?
CHAIRMAN:-Dr. Woo, even though it is my birthday, I cannot answer a question about something that happened ten years ago. (Laughter).
DR. Woo:-You asked me to give you an example. I can give you another example, Mr. Chairman, on the enquiries about two of my suggestions. One is I raised the case of 29, North Point Road illegal structure, and the other, I raised a question about a booklet for health education. The answer given to me was "it was minuted in the minutes, but the files are missing". Can you explain that?
CHAIRMAN:-Well, Sir, I cannot explain that.
DR. Woo:-You asked me to give specific examples, I can give you many more.
CHAIRMAN:-Sir, if you will supply them in writing, I will deal with them personally.
MR. SALES:-Mr. Chairman, may I wish you many happy returns on behalf of the Appointed Members. (Laughter). Secondly, the question of the Parks, Recreation and Amenities Select Committee was brought up. May I mention that that particular Select Committee carries out an unceasing review of motions, questions and papers on the subjects pertaining to the work of the Select Committee, and I believe it was two months ago when the last review took place. The last review showed that of 747 items raised, only 29 remained for completion. These 29 items were brought to the attention of the Select Committee. Reasons were given why action had not been concluded on them; in point of fact, action was pending on some of these 29 items. Now I think, if I may suggest with the greatest respect to my colleague, that it is also the function of the Chairmen of all Select Committees to follow up on suggestions made within their spheres of work and to ensure that the secretaries of these Select Committees carry out a review from time to time. I hope that in citing the instance of the Parks, Recreation & Amenities Select Committee brought up by my colleague, Dr. Woo, I have been able to throw some light on this matter.
MR. WONG: Mr. Chairman, may I rise on a point of clarification concerning Dr. Woo's point about 29, North Point Road? I think the Environmental Hygiene Select Committee, after long discussion, decided to have half of the premises covered. I think there was a follow up on that.
(14) MR. S. RAFEEK asked the following question:-
I have received suggestions from members of various Kaifong Associations that the Urban Services' latrines, many of which are at present quite drab-looking, should have better internal lighting, flooring and walls so that they would appear to be well-kept and in a clean condition as and when they are used by members of the public. What steps can be taken to effect these improvements?
THE CHAIRMAN, URBAN COUNCIL, replied as follows:-
It has been recognized that some of the public latrines in the urban areas, a number of which were built pre-war, are in need of modernisation. Action is being taken to submit schemes of renovation to the Public Works Sub-Committee for inclusion as a composite item in Category D of the Public Works Programme for the next financial year. Improvements envisaged include the replacement of trough urinals by stall-type, the provision of wash-hand basins, better lighting, more ventilation, the tiling of certain areas, re-flooring where necessary and, in some cases, the re-allocation of compartments between male and female and/or an increase in the total number of compartments provided.
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
CHAIRMAN:-Let me try and explain what the Council Section has admittedly not done the item which I mentioned in my answer--and it is most easily done by taking an example. We can take an example from to-day's Order Paper. Item 3 is a question from Mr. Wilfred WONG about rafts at Shek O beach. Now, some time about twelve months ago, I think it was in 1966, a question was asked about rafts at Shek O beach by Mr. Wilfred WONG. The substance of that question was, how is it we do not have any rafts there when we used to have rafts there. The matter was referred to the Parks, Recreation & Amenities Select Committee, and that Committee eventually decided on an experiment with one raft with a much heavier mooring than previously. That decision was not referred back to the Council, and was only made known today because a further question was specifically asked by Mr. Wilfred WONG. That is the fault in our system which is going to be rectified. Other than that, Dr. Woo, I cannot admit to any deficiency in our system unless you will give me a specific example.
DR. Woo:-Mr. Chairman, I have here a 1958 Hansard. I asked the question whether the Council would extend the hours of opening in the Botanic Gardens, and have one area lit at night for people to sit in the summer. Mr. MORRISON, the then Chairman, said "I am only too pleased to refer this to the Select Committee". This has never been done. Now, in a case like this what are we going to do?
CHAIRMAN:-Dr. Woo, even though it is my birthday, I cannot answer a question about something that happened ten years ago. (Laughter).
DR. Woo:-You asked me to give you an example. I can give you another example, Mr. Chairman, on the enquiries about two of my suggestions. One is I raised the case of 29, North Point Road illegal structure, and the other, I raised a question about a booklet for health education. The answer given to me was "it was minuted in the minutes, but the files are missing". Can you explain that?
CHAIRMAN:-Well, Sir, I cannot explain that.
DR. Woo:-You asked me to give specific examples, I can give you many more.
CHAIRMAN:-Sir, if you will supply them in writing, I will deal with them personally.
MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, may I wish you many happy returns on behalf of the Appointed Members. (Laughter). Secondly, the question of the Parks, Recreation and Amenities Select Committee was brought up. May I mention that that particular Select Committes carries out an unceasing review of motions, questions and papers on the
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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subjects pertaining to the work of the Select Committee, and I believe it was two months ago when the last review took place. The last review showed that of 747 items raised, only 29 remained for completion. These 29 items were brought to the attention of the Select Committee. Reasons were given why action had not been concluded on them; in point of fact, action was pending on some of these 29 items. Now I think, if I may suggest with the greatest respect to my colleague, that it is also the function of the Chairmen of all Select Committees to follow up on suggestions made within their spheres of work and to ensure that the secretaries of these Select Committees carry out a review from time to time. I hope that in citing the instance of the Parks, Recreation & Amenities Select Committee brought up by my colleague, Dr. Woo, I have been able to throw some light on this matter.
MR. WONG: Mr. Chairman, may I rise on a point of clarification concerning Dr. Woo's point about 29, North Point Road? I think the Environmental Hygiene Select Committee, after long discussion, decided to have half of the premises covered. I think there was a follow up on that.
(14) MR. S. RAFEEK asked the following question:-
I have received suggestions from members of various Kaifong Associations that the Urban Services' latrines, many of which are at present quite drab-looking, should have better internal lighting, flooring and walls so that they would appear to be well-kept and in a clean condition as and when they are used by members of the public. What steps can be taken to effect these improvements?
THE CHAIRMAN, URBAN COUNCIL, replied as follows: -
It has been recognized that some of the public latrines in the urban areas, a number of which were built pre-war, are in need of modernisation. Action is being taken to sub- mit schemes of renovation to the Public Works Sub- Committee for inclusion as a composite item in Category D of the Public Works Programme for the next financial year. Improvements envisaged include the replacement of trough urinals by stall-type, the provision of wash-hand basins, better lighting, more ventilation, the tiling of certain areas, re-flooring where necessary and, in some cases, the re-allocation of compartments between male and female and/or an increase in the total number of compartments provided.
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