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CHAIRMAN: I think, Mr. BLAKER, it is partly tied to the fact that we ourselves were not very keen to enlarge the Force, in the early stages after the policy was accepted, because we felt certain conditions were not geared to get the best people in the Force, and there was some delay when we considered how to improve these conditions of service. In the meantime, there has been a run-down, and I think there are somewhere in the region of 130 vacancies at the moment.
MR. BLAKER: Mr. Chairman, I don't think you have answered my question. Does the Secretariat consider the proposals inadequate for this purpose?
CHAIRMAN: As I say, proposals are still under consideration: until I have had a meeting with the officers in the Secretariat and we know which way the wind blows, I cannot answer your question.
MR. BERNACCHI: Mr. Chairman, I am asking perhaps a very on-the-border-line supplementary, but in view of the position of under-strength of the Hawker Control Force, why are members permitted to transfer, not only to other departments, but even to other divisions of the Urban Services Department, and therefore make the position even worse?
CHAIRMAN: Because, I think it should be obvious to all Members, we were not happy with either the composition of or the type of person we had in the Force, and if in fact we have had many resignations and transfers, this didn't worry us too much.
(10) MR. SOLOMON RAFEEK asked the following question:
Is it possible for Urban Council swimming pools to be heated so they can be used in the winter months? If it is not possible to do this with existing pools, could future pools be pre-designed to permit heating in winter?
MR. A. de O. SALES, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION AND AMENITIES SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows:
Sir, the Recreation and Amenities Select Committee has long suggested the provision of heated pools, but we are advised that it would not be possible to heat existing Urban Council swimming pools without considerable redesign and expense. So we are attempting to heat the next group of pools.
The pool at Morrison Hill, on Hong Kong Island, which is being generously paid for by the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club and designed by a private architect, will have an enclosed and covered heated main pool, with air-conditioned corridors leading from the changing rooms to this pool. This project is in Category B of the Public Works Programme and is likely to be upgraded to Category A in the near future.
In May the Recreation and Amenities Select Committee considered an investigation report on the question of heated swimming pools prepared by the Public Works Department. The Committee recommended that all future pools, starting with the pool at Hung Hom which is in Category B of the Public Works Programme, should contain one heated pool, preferably the main one. These pools need not be converted and enclosed like the one at Morrison Hill because the extra cost would be considerable and, except on cold and windy days, swimmers might well prefer a warmed open pool to a covered one. The Committee's recommendations have been conveyed to Government, and I understand that costings are still being worked out.
MR. RAFEEK: Mr. Chairman, may I thank Mr. SALES for his very clarifying answer to my question. I have no supplementaries.
(11) MR. SOLOMON RAFEEK asked the following question:
I have recently received complaints from a number of residents in the Lo Fu Ngam Resettlement Estate concerning the name of the estate, the translation in English being "tiger's den". These residents do not consider the name to be appropriate, and have asked if it could be changed. Could consideration be given to this request?
MR. HENRY H. L. HU, CHAIRMAN OF THE RESETTLEMENT MANAGEMENT SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows:
Mr. Chairman, a change in the name of Lo Fu Ngam Estate was considered in December 1965 following a request from the Hong Kong Buddhist Association for a change in the name of Lo Fu Ngam Street. The proposal was, however, dropped on the ground that both the educated and uneducated persons of the locality were not in favour.
Mr. Solomon RAFEEK can rest assured that the Resettlement Department is now re-examining the issue as nearly 5 years have since elapsed. Enquiries are now being made
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CHAIRMAN: I think, Mr. BLAKER, it is partly tied to the fact that we ourselves were not very keen to enlarge the Force, in the early stages after the policy was accepted, because we felt certain conditions were not geared to get the best people in the Force, and there was some delay when we considered how to improve these conditions of service. In the meantime, there has been a run-down, and I think there are somewhere in the region of 130 vacancies at the moment.
MR. BLAKER-Mr. Chairman, I don't think you have answered my question. Does the Secretariat consider the proposals inadequate for this purpose?
CHAIRMAN: -As I say, proposals are still under consideration: until I have had a meeting with the officers in the Secretariat and we know which way the wind blows, I cannot answer your question.
MR. BERNACCHI:-Mr. Chairman, I am asking perhaps a very on- the-border-line supplementary, but in view of the position of under- strength of the Hawker Control Force, why are members permitted to transfer, not only to other departments, but even to other divisions of the Urban Services Department, and therefore make the position even worse?
CHAIRMAN:-Because, I think it should be obvious to all Members, we were not happy with either the composition of or the type of person we had in, the Force, and if in fact we have had many resignations and transfers, this didn't worry us too much.
(10) MR. SOLOMON RAFEEK asked the following question:-
Is it possible for Urban Council swimming pools to be heated so they can be used in the winter months? If it is not possible to do this with existing pools, could future pools be pre-designed to permit heating in winter?
MR. A. de O. SALES, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION AND AMENITIES SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows:-
Sir, the Recreation and Amenities Select Committee has long suggested the provision of heated pools, but we are advis- ed that it would not be possible to heat existing Urban Council swimming pools without considerable redesign and expense. So we are attempting to heat the next group of pools.
The pool at Morrison Hill, on Hong Kong Island, which is being generously paid for by the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club and designed by a private architect, will have
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
209
an enclosed and covered heated main pool, with air- conditioned corridors leading from the changing rooms to this pool. This project is in Category B of the Public Works Programme and is likely to be upgraded to Category A in the near future.
In May the Recreation and Amenities Select Committee con- sidered an investigation report on the question of heated swimming pools prepared by the Public Works Depart- ment. The Committee recommended that all future pools, starting with the pool at Hung Hom which is in Category B of the Public Works Programme, should contain one heated pool, preferably the main one. These pools need not be converted and enclosed like the one at Morrison Hill because the extra cost would be considerable and, except on cold and windy days, swimmers might well prefer a warmed open pool to a covered one. The Committee's recommendations have been conveyed to Government, and I understand that costings are still being worked out.
MR. RAFEEK:-Mr. Chairman, may I thank Mr. SALES for his very clarifying answer to my question. I have no supplementaries.
(11) MR. SOLOMON RAFEEK asked the following question:-
I have recently received complaints from a number of residents in the Lo Fu Ngam Resettlement Estate concerning the name of the estate the translation in English being "tiger's den". These residents do not consider the name to be appropriate, and have asked if it could be changed. Could consideration be given to this request?
MR. HENRY H. L. HU, CHAIRMAN OF THE Resettlement MANAGE- MENT SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows:-
Mr. Chairman, a change in the name of Lo Fu Ngam Estate was considered in December 1965 following a request from the Hong Kong Buddhist Association for a change in the name of Lo Fu Ngam Street. The proposal was, however, dropped on the ground that both the educated and uneducated persons of the locality were not in favour.
Mr. Solomon RAFEEK can rest assured that the Resettlement Department is now re-examining the issue as nearly 5 years have since elapsed. Enquiries are now being made
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.