1971 — Page 47

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Page 47 of 242

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to enquire now whether the second, (b) of my question, the speed of construction of these pools, whether in fact we can expect this ambitious programme to be completed at rather higher speed than previously?

MR. SALES: -I suggested that Government should undertake round- the-clock work but that suggestion was not taken up by the Govern- ment. It was intended to make good the set-back suffered in the construction of these swimming pools when the contractor went bankrupt. Why was that not followed up?

CHAIRMAN: -Are you answering a question?

MR. SALES:-I did answer the first question, but I followed it up with a question directed to you.

CHAIRMAN:-I think this was explained at the time to you, Mr. SALES. I don't remember what the exact answer was, but it was explained.

MR. SALES-Sir, may I say that no explanation was given. We were just told that the Government did not accept that suggestion, period.

MR. BERNACCHI : -I should like to ask either Mr. SALES, or you Mr. Chairman, or the Director of Public Works, why the complex at Chai Wan is only in Category C?

MR. SALES-Sir, very briefly, we met with great difficulties in getting all the land we want, and in point of fact I think this is on the reclamation, if I am not mistaken, and the reclamation also has met with some delay. However, anything that the Ward Member for Chai Wan could do to expedite the construction of the swimming pool there would be greatly appreciated by my Select Committee.

MR. BERNACCHI:-Is the proposed complex at present under the sea or is it in fact on reclaimed land?

MR. SALES: -At this moment, Mr. Chairman, I must pass that question on to the Director of Public Works, because it is a great num- ber of years since I have dared to venture into Mr. BERNACCHI's Ward.

MRS. ELLIOTT:-Mr. Chairman, may I add my voice to pressing for the completion of these pools because at least two people have been drowned in the holes because they have been left unguarded.

MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, in fact I have been pressing for the construction of these pools for nearly 20 years, and I should be very happy to get the support of all my colleagues and could you urge upon the Government once again the importance of not dilly-dallying on the subject of building swimming pools?

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MR. BERNACCHI: Can I have an answer to my supplementary question as to whether the proposed complex at Chai Wan is only under the sea or whether it is, in fact, on dry land now.

DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS: -Mr. Chairman, to the best of my knowledge there is no complex at Chai Wan. There is an item in the programme in Category C, and when you manage to get approval, it goes to Category B, then you can have a site allocated.

MR. BERNACCHI : So no site has been allocated at present?

CHAIRMAN:-That is correct.

The

MR. SALES: I don't know whether that is entirely correct. project to get into Category C has been approved in principle, so it is a question of the normal procedure having to be followed before the project can be elevated to Category B and by that time the site must be available, the drawings must be ready and the Public Works Depart- ment also prepared to go out to tender. Am I not right?

DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS:-That is partly correct.

The point

is, you will not get a site allocated as such until you have the item in category B.

MR. BERNACCHI :--I'll frame my supplementary in rather a different way. Is there any land available for such a complex at present or is it only available if and when further reclamation is done?

MR. SALES: Surely, Mr. Chairman, Mr. BERNACCHI is in the best position to answer that question. We would like to think that he goes to his Ward Office often. (Laughter). Well, the last time he was there did he see the reclamation above sea-level or still in the process of being under construction under sea level? May I have an answer from Mr. BERNACCHI as to what he saw in Chai Wan when he was there last?

MR. BERNACCHI :-May I have first an answer to my question? Is any land available for that complex in Chai Wan or is the only land available in the anticipated reclamation which has not taken place?

CHAIRMAN: ---I am afraid I would need notice of that question. I believe that we hope to put it somewhere in Chai Wan, and it probably will be on reclaimed land. But I am unable to state categorically.

MR. SALES: -Is it the intention, Sir, that it would be on reclaimed land?

MR. BERNACCHI:-Perhaps it is indeed in Category C, not ABC, but SEA. (Laughter).