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mental Hygiene Select Committee, a senior official from the Information Services Department spent 10 days in Singapore in order to study the Republic's "Keep Singapore Clean" campaigns, primarily from the point of view of the public relations aspects. He had discussions with officials in Singapore, assessed the success of the campaigns and studied from a wider organizational and co-ordinating standpoint how such campaigns could be practically and effectively carried out in Hong Kong. A report has been made by the officer on his return, and it is now being studied by the department. The matter will be discussed in the two Select Committees in due course.
MR. RAFEEK:-Mr. Chairman, may I thank Dr. HUANG for his reply. I have no supplementaries.
(12) MR. SOLOMON RAFEEK asked the following question:-
Waterfall Beach in the Aberdeen area is an ideal spot for picnickers from the Wah Fu estate. Will the Chairman please say whether there is any intention at all to provide some facilities there for the week-end and holiday swim- mers?
THE CHAIRMAN, URBAN COUNCIL, replied as follows:-
The department has recently investigated the possibility of developing three beaches in this area for swimming- Waterfall Bay, Kellett Bay and the shore below blocks 18 and 19 of Wah Fu Estate, but the outlook is not encourag- ing. At all these beaches there are rocks or strong currents or serious contamination of the water, and on top of that at Waterfall Bay the access is difficult. It therefore appears unlikely that it will be possible to develop these beaches in the usual way for popular swimming by the masses. But the department is now considering whether they can be developed for other forms of recreation such as picnicking.
MR. RAFEEK:-Thank you.
MR. HU:-Mr. Chairman, may I ask one supplementary. I un- derstand the Department is actively looking into Ma Wan for a swim- ming beach. Is it possible that we have a beach at Ma Wan opened in the very near future?
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
CHAIRMAN:-I don't think, Mr. Hu, it arises at all out of the question, but we will inquire and let you know in the usual way.
MR. HU:-Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
(13) MR. RAYMOND Y. K. KAN asked the following question:-
The existing Central Market, which occupies a very valuable piece of land in the Central District, is outdated and does not fully serve the present-day needs of the housewives. It also causes daily traffic congestion. In view of this, can the Chairman inform this Council whether there are plans to redevelop this centrally-located site into a multi- storied market complex comprising the traditional Chinese- type market and the Western-style super-market with auxiliary facilities such as car parking, offices, stores, etc.
MR. R. H. LOBO, CHAIRMAN OF THE MARKETS SELECT Committee, replied as follows:-
I am grateful to Mr. KAN for raising this very interesting question, which produces much food for thought in rela- tion to the future development of marketing facilities in Hong Kong. It is indeed true that the traditional market- ing habits of the local population are beginning to change, and we must constantly keep in mind the possibility that new ways may have to be found of catering for the chang- ing pattern of demand.
With regard to Mr. KAN's specified proposals for Central Market, I can only say that this Council has not yet for- mulated any definite plans for its redevelopment. There are so many pressing problems connected with the repro- visioning of older and more inadequate markets elsewhere in the urban area, and with the provision of new markets for the rapidly-expanding populations of the industrial and resettlement areas that Central Market has, of neces- sity, had to occupy a lower place on the list of priorities. However, I gladly assure Mr. KAN that his proposals, which have far-reaching implications, will be very care- fully studied by the Markets Select Committee at the earliest opportunity.
MR. KAN:-Mr. Chairman, I gather from Mr. LOBO's answer that this project is of very low priority in his Select Committee. However, from our past experience we know that it would take at least five to six years, or may be even more, even ten years, for a project of this
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
mental Hygiene Select Committee, a senior official from the Information Services Department spent 10 days in Singapore in order to study the Republic's "Keep Singapore Clean" campaigns, primarily from the point of view of the public relations aspects. He had discussions with officials in Singapore, assessed the success of the campaigns and studied from a wider organizational and co-ordinating standpoint how such campaigns could be practically and effectively carried out in Hong Kong. A report has been made by the officer on his return, and it is now being studied by the department. The matter will be discussed in the two Select Committees in due
course.
MR. RAFEEK:-Mr. Chairman, may I thank Dr. HUANG for his reply. I have no supplementaries.
(12) MR. SOLOMON RAFEEK asked the following question:-
Waterfall Beach in the Aberdeen area is an ideal spot for picnickers from the Wah Fu estate. Will the Chairman please say whether there is any intention at all to provide some facilities there for the week-end and holiday swim- mers?
THE CHAIRMAN, URBAN COUNCIL, replied as follows:-
The department has recently investigated the possibility of
developing three beaches in this area for swimming- Waterfall Bay, Kellett Bay and the shore below blocks 18 and 19 of Wah Fu Estate, but the outlook is not encourag- ing. At all these beaches there are rocks or strong currents or serious contamination of the water, and on top of that at Waterfall Bay the access is difficult. It therefore appears unlikely that it will be possible to develop these beaches in the usual way for popular swimming by the masses. But the department is now considering whether they can be developed for other forms of recreation such as picnicking.
MR. RAFEEK:-Thank you.
MR. HU:-Mr. Chairman, may I ask one supplementary. I un- derstand the Department is actively looking into Ma Wan for a swim- ming beach. Is it possible that we have a beach at Ma Wan opened in the very near future?
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159
CHAIRMAN:-I don't think, Mr. Hu, it arises at all out of the question, but we will inquire and let you know in the usual way.
MR. HU:-Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
(13) MR. RAYMOND Y. K. KAN asked the following question : -
The existing Central Market, which occupies a very valuable piece of land in the Central District, is outdated and does not fully serve the present-day needs of the housewives. It also causes daily traffic congestion. In view of this, can the Chairman inform this Council whether there are plans to redevelop this centrally-located site into a multi- storied market complex comprising the traditional Chinese- type market and the Western-style super-market with auxiliary facilities such as car parking, offices, stores, etc.
MR. R. H. LOBO, CHAIRMAN OF THE MARKETS SELECT Committee, replied as follows:-
I am grateful to Mr. KAN for raising this very interesting question, which produces much food for thought in rela- tion to the future development of marketing facilities in Hong Kong. It is indeed true that the traditional market- ing habits of the local population are beginning to change, and we must constantly, keep in mind the possibility that new ways may have to be found of catering for the chang- ing pattern of demand.
With regard to Mr. KAN's specified proposals for Central Market, I can only say that this Council has not yet for- mulated any definite plans for its redevelopment. There are so many pressing problems connected with the repro- visioning of older and more inadequate markets elsewhere in the urban area, and with the provision of new markets for the rapidly-expanding populations of the industrial and resettlement areas that Central Market has, of neces- sity, had to occupy a lower place on the list of priorities. However, I gladly assure Mr. KAN that his proposals, which have far-reaching implications, will be very care- fully studied by the Markets Select Committee at the earliest opportunity.
MR. KAN:-Mr. Chairman, I gather from Mr. LOBO's answer that this project is of very low priority in his Select Committee. However, from our past experience we know that it would take at least five to six years, or may be even more, even ten years, for a project of this
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